
Pole beans don't have tendrils like some vines
Grape
A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten fresh as table grapes or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil. Grapes are a non-climacteric typ…
How to grow pole beans from seed?
How to Grow Pole Beans Grow pole beans in a garden bed or container. Plant outside, once the soil has reached 60°F (16ºC). Plant pole bean seeds 1″ (2.5 cm) deep Pole bean plant spacing – If you want to grow them around a pole or pyramid, try 4 plants per hill/pole with hills around 18 inches apart. Pole bean seeds should germinate in 7-10 days
How tall should a bean plant pole be?
When using poles as pole bean supports, you’ll want the pole to be 6 to 8 feet tall. The pole should be rough to help the bean grow up the pole. ... To make a bean plant teepee, you will take three to four, 5- to 6-foot lengths of the chosen support and tie them together at one end.
How do you plant pole beans on a trellis?
When using a trellis as pole bean supports, plant the pole beans at the base of your trellis about 3 inches (8 cm.) apart. These store bought wire frames are frequently found in the home garden and are a quick, at-hand way for how to stake up pole beans.
How far apart do you plant climbing beans?
However you decide to plant them, sow pole bean seeds deep, about 1 inch into the soil and about 3–5 inches apart. If you plant multiple rows, space them at least 36 inches apart. For other climbing bean varieties follow the directions of the grower. As with all new plants, irrigation is critically important to climbing beans.

What do you use to climb pole beans?
3:037:095 Best Bean Poles, Frames and Supports for Your Garden - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother very common way to support beans is with an a-frame supported at the ridge by a horizontalMoreAnother very common way to support beans is with an a-frame supported at the ridge by a horizontal cane or pole push the canes into the ground at an angle.
How do you get beans to climb?
1:112:16How to Grow Climbing Beans - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if the shoots keep climbing looking for a cloud to latch onto just pinch the tip out which willMoreSo if the shoots keep climbing looking for a cloud to latch onto just pinch the tip out which will encourage it to push out lower down.
Do pole beans need something to climb on?
Pole beans grow as climbing vines that may reach 10 to 15 feet tall and require a trellis or staking.
How do you train pole beans to climb a trellis?
Pole beans should get at least an inch of rainfall each week to help fill out their pods. As long as your pole beans have something to attach to, they will climb high. The spiral vines will wrap around whatever they can find to continue onward and upward.
Why are my pole beans not climbing?
While all growing beans need full sun and fertile, well-draining soil for optimal production, too much sun or rather high temps may have an adverse effect on the bean plot. High temperatures during certain parts of the growing season may be one reason for stunted bean plants or bean pods that are too little.
How tall should pole bean trellis?
5 to 6 feetThe trellis needs to be 5 to 6 feet (1.5-2 m.) high for staking beans. When using a trellis as pole bean supports, plant the pole beans at the base of your trellis about 3 inches (8 cm.) apart.
Do pole beans need a trellis?
Pole beans are large and impressive plants, usually growing at least six feet tall and often up to 12 feet. Pole beans need ample space to grow, and won't grow well in compact areas. Require trellises or other support.
How do you make a climbing bean frame?
0:142:56How To: Make an 'A' frame bean support - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the tops. Cross. So when you've got your first pair nicely firmly tied up there time toMoreMake sure the tops. Cross. So when you've got your first pair nicely firmly tied up there time to put in the second pair about 45 centimeters apart about a foot and a.
How do you make a bean teepee?
Building a Bean TeepeeYour bean teepee should be made at least three feet wide, with the poles or canes set about a foot apart. ... Use a garbage can lid or similar object as a guide for your circle. ... To help the beans climb up the teepee, run string horizontally across the canes.More items...
Will pole beans climb a string?
The beans will grow and wind up and around. If they need a bit of guidance, some garden twine or a bit of string can be used, but that's essentially how to stake up pole beans. Just provide them with support and up and away they grow, like Jack and the Beanstalk.
Should you top pole beans?
Why do you pinch bean tips, or the tips of most any plant? Generally, pinching back the foliage allows the plant to do a couple of things. It encourages the plant to become bushier and, in some cases, directs the energy of the plant to flower, hence fruit in greater abundance.
Do pole beans climb themselves?
Pole beans don't have tendrils like some vines. They climb by spiraling around the pole, string or whatever vertical object they are near. Eventually, they will spiral around each other too.
How do beans climb other plants?
They climb by spiraling around the pole, string or whatever vertical object they are near. Eventually, they will spiral around each other too.
Do all beans climb?
All green beans like a bit of support but pole beans grow much taller and really need trellis or poles to climb on to get a successful harvest. Both types of beans are from the wax bean family and are easy to grow. The main difference between bush beans and pole beans is the support that they need. What is this?
How do you make a climbing bean frame?
0:142:56How To: Make an 'A' frame bean support - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the tops. Cross. So when you've got your first pair nicely firmly tied up there time toMoreMake sure the tops. Cross. So when you've got your first pair nicely firmly tied up there time to put in the second pair about 45 centimeters apart about a foot and a.
Pole Bean Companion Plants
According to The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, they recommend the following for companion plants:Good pole bean companion plants: Pole beans like car...
Pole Bean Fertilizer – Yes Or No?
Do I Need to Fertilize my Beans? No! Don't overfertilize your beans! Too much nitrogen (like manure or high nitrogen fertilizers) will give you lus...
Why I Like Pole Beans Better Than Bush Beans
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with bush beans. I still grow some bush shell beans that I harvest once, at the end of the season, for dr...
What Are The Best Varieties of Pole Beans to Grow?
My personal favorite are Emerite pole beans, which are a French heirloom. These beans are great over a range of sizes. They have to be really overg...
What's The Best Pole Bean Trellis?
This is a personal preference, and I've seen many beautiful and ingenious trellises specifically built for pole beans or improvised out of material...
How Often Do I Need to Pick My Beans?
Pole beans should be picked every 2-3 days to keep them producing. If you leave mature beans on the vine too long, the plant thinks that its job is...
How Do I Save Pole Bean Seed?
To save pole bean seeds for replanting, they must be fully mature. This means they should ripen and dry on the vine. (These rules apply for bush be...
Storing Your Pole Bean Harvest
To freeze beans, blanch 3 minutes, plunge into ice water, and drain. Pack in vacuum seal bags for best storage like. Always label and date your con...
Recommended Pole Bean Varieties
The main categories of beans include dry beans (seeds harvested at full maturity when dry), snap beans (tender pods that snap at harvest time, before their seeds develop), and shell or shelled beans (tender seeds harvested at maturity).
Planting Pole Beans
How to grow pole beans? The large size of pole bean seeds makes planting easy and thinning sprouts isn’t necessary. They’re a great garden space maximizer and there are just a few rules to follow when planning and planting.
Care
As long as your beans have the support of a sturdy trellis, there is very little to do until harvest time. Pole bean flowers bloom in a variety of colors and their prolific blossoms are breathtaking.
Trellising Pole Beans
The growing tip of a pole bean plant making its way to the top of a trellis.. Source: Jude Doyland
Harvesting and Storing
Harvest times depend on whether you plan to eat the shelled beans or snap bean pods fresh, or will preserve the beans for dry use.
Troubleshooting
Pole beans can be hit by diseases caused by bacterium, fungi, or viruses and several common pests can also ruin your harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Some of the most popular pole beans include Blue Lake, Kentucky Blue, and Scarlet Runner.
Pick Florida-Friendly Varieties
There are dozens of different species of pole beans. ‘McCaslan’, ‘Kentucky Wonder’, ‘Rattlesnake’, and ‘Blue Lake’ are some great varieties for Florida gardens. If you choose pole beans not on this list, look for options that are rust-resistant, a must in Florida’s humid climate.
Planting and Care
Climbing bean blooms, like the winged bean flower pictured above, bring beauty to your vegetable garden. Credit: Ko Ko Maung, Bugwood.org
Harvesting Your Pole Beans
Pole beans should be ready for harvest after about 50–70 days. Other climbing bean species may take a little more or less time to mature; check the links below for details.
Pole
One of the most common pole bean supports is, well, the pole. This straight stick is so often used when staking beans that it is has given its name to the bean it supports. The bean pole is used because it is one of the easiest ways to stake up pole beans.
Bean plant teepee
A bean plant teepee is another popular option for how to stake pole beans. A bean plant teepee is typically made of bamboo, but can be made of any thin long supports, like dowel rods or poles. To make a bean plant teepee, you will take three to four, 5 to 6 foot (1.5-2 m.) lengths of the chosen support and tie them together at one end.
Trellis
A trellis is another popular way to stake pole beans. A trellis is basically a moveable fence. You can buy these at the store or you can build your own by connecting slats in a criss-cross pattern. Another way to build a trellis for staking beans is to build a frame and cover it with chicken wire.
Tomato cage
These store bought wire frames are frequently found in the home garden and are a quick, at-hand way for how to stake up pole beans. While you can use tomato cages for staking beans, they make less than ideal pole bean supports. This is because they are not tall enough for the typical pole bean plant.
How to Grow Pole Beans
Grow pole beans in a garden bed or container. Full sun is best, but plants will tolerate light shade. Best soil pH is 6.5 -7.5 (neutral soil). Beans like a little potassium and phosphorus, but avoid excess nitrogen. (See below.) Plant outside, once the soil has reached 60°F (16ºC).
Pole Bean Companion Plants
According to The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, they recommend the following for companion plants:
Pole Bean Fertilizer – Yes or No?
Do I Need to Fertilize my Beans? No! Don't overfertilize your beans! Too much nitrogen (like manure or high nitrogen fertilizers) will give you lush leaves and very few beans.
Why I Like Pole Beans Better Than Bush Beans
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with bush beans. I still grow some bush shell beans that I harvest once, at the end of the season, for dried beans. For my main crop, I switched to pole beans years ago and haven't looked back. Here are 3 reasons I like pole beans better than bush beans.
What are the Best Varieties of Pole Beans to Grow?
My personal favorite are Emerite pole beans, which are a French heirloom. These beans are great over a range of sizes. They have to be really overgrown to get tough and chewy, so if a few beans are missed during one picking, odds are they will still be good at the next.
What's the Best Pole Bean Trellis?
This is a personal preference, and I've seen many beautiful and ingenious trellises specifically built for pole beans or improvised out of materials at hand. Some bean trellis options include:
Do I Need Bees to Pollinate my Pole Beans?
No. Beans are usually self-pollinating – but bees are always welcome and may increase yields.
How do I make pole beans climb?
This is my first year planting pole beans. I have 160' of fortex, rattlesnake, and kentucky wonder. They are planted adjacent to field fence which I am using for a trellis, about 1' from the planting site. How do I get them to climb up the field fence? With cucumbers, it's easy. I just move the plant to the fence and they climb.
Comments (7)
When they get tall enough they will fall toward the fence and start wrapping themselves around anything they can find including each other. Be patient.
Getting pole beans to climb
Hi everyone! I need a bit of advice. My pole beans this year are not sending out any grabbers to climb onto the trellis we built for it. Each plant is not about 6 inches to a foot tall. They are flowering and producing, but not climbing at all. Every time I water them or it rains, they fall over.
Re: Getting pole beans to climb
The strange thing that I hear in this is that the beans are flowering at this size. How long ago did you plant them? My pole beans normally don't flower until all the way to the top of the five ft. trellis, and well beyond.
Re: Getting pole beans to climb
Sometimes the factory makes mistakes. You probably have bush beans marked pole beans. One year my bush beans turned out to be all pole beans it was too much work to cut poles so I mowed all the beans down with the lawn mower then planted bush beans.
Re: Getting pole beans to climb
"It could be that your package was mis-labeled at the factory." I am leaning towards this.
Re: Getting pole beans to climb
I planted Blue Lake Bush beans this year and about 30% are trying to climb. There must be some pole beans mixed in with the bush beans. I am not going to worry about it, let them climb all they want I am not putting up poles. Pole beans will not climb things that are slippery like bamboo poles.
