Building a tepee for your pole beans to grow up is a fun and space saving method of growing these delicious vegetables. Follow the steps below to create your own pole bean tepee!
1. First you will need to make mounds to plant the beans in. The mounds I build are approximately 6' from side to side and 8"-12" high.
2. You will need to find a pole for the center support. I like to use pressure treated 2"x2" lumber in 8' sections. These can be found at any home improvement store (will likely be back by decking materials).
3. Using a saw (miter, hand saw, reciprocating saw, any saw!) cut one end to make it pointed. It should now look like an 8' tall stake, pointed on one end and flat on the other.
4. Drive the stake into the center of the mound using a mallet or heavy hammer. You will want to bury the pointed end about 2' deep. You will likely need a step ladder for this part. Also, at this time you will want to screw an eyebolt into the flat top of the stake (get as large an eyebolt as you can without splitting the lumber).
5. Next, choose approximately 8 small wooden stakes (these can be found in several different lengths in most garden centers, you will need to cut them down to about 10" long with one end pointed). Try to space them evenly around the top edge of the raised mound around the center pole and drive them in at an angle away from the center pole (like tent pegs).
6. You will now need either heavy garden twine or fibrous light rope. You will start by wrapping one end around one of the small stakes with one heavy duty staple to hold it in place, run the other end up through the eye bolt on the large stake, then down to the next small stake, where you will again make a single wrap around the small stake and affix it with a staple. Continue doing this all the way around and when you are finished you should have something resembling a tepee.
7. The final step is to plant beans near the bottom of each of the small stakes and at the bottom of the large stake. As these plants grow you will need to train them around the twine. However, once the vines really take off you will no longer need to train them. In no time at all, all you will see is a large green bean tepee. This method makes picking the beans very easy and you can grow enough for a whole family off just one or two tepees.
About the Author
Steve Gunther is passionate about vegetable gardening. Though only introduced to gardening himself a couple of years ago, he has immersed himself in the gardening community. Steve is currently starting a website dedicated to vegetable gardening http://getready2garden.com/ and a blog: http://getready2garden.blogspot.com/
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