[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Articles, Publications and Other Resources
Build A Bean Tower
Next summer, a great activity for you and your child to do together in the garden is to build a bean tower. A bean tower is made using three 5’ long poles. The poles can be made of wood, bamboo or pvc. Lay a pole on the ground and stretch a tape measure out next to it. Mark the pole at 1’, 2’, 3’, and 4’ intervals. Mark the other two poles in a similar fashion. Drill holes through each of the poles at these 12” intervals. Lash the poles together with twine, using the top set of holes, then spread the poles out to form a standing tripod. Thread twine through the next set of holes down from the top, making a circle around the entire tripod, to hold it stable when the wind blows. Repeat threading the twine through the holes at each set of holes down the poles. Place the bean tower a sunny spot in the garden. For added stability, dig holes for each leg of the bean tower and bury them in the soil.
Plant 5-6 seeds at the base of each leg of the bean tower, using any type of climbing or pole bean. This type of bean develops long vines that will climb the tower and completely cover it by mid-late summer. As the vines begin to grow, curl them around the poles and weave them through the twine to help them climb the tower. Shop for pole beans seeds at the local nursery or garden center.
Varieties of pole beans to use on your tower include the following:
‘Kentucky Wonder’- produces heavy crops of tender, meaty pods with classic bean flavor. Pods are oval, gently curved and borne in clusters. Pods 9” long and stringless when young. Brown seeds. Vine height 6-8 feet. 65 days from seed to harvest.
‘Kentucky Blue’- this All American winner combines the excellence of ‘Kentucky Wonder’ and ‘Blue Lake’. For many weeds, you’ll get big crops of stringless, sweet pods. Pods 7” long, vine height 6-8 feet. 65 days from seed to harvest.
‘Italian Bean Trio’- is available through Park Seed Company. Mardi Gras shades of purple, green, and yellow make these Romano beans as festive as they are delicious. Easy to grow, vigorous running vines, erupt in 6-7” long, flat, wide pods all season long. 60-65 days from seed to harvest.
Another beautiful and edible plant to grow on your bean tower is Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos lablab). It is a very rapidly growing annual vine that can reach heights of 10-20 feet. In fact, it would be wise to build a taller tower when using this plant to accommodate its rapid growth. It has purple-green leaves and white, lilac or pink-purple flowers. It produces brightly colored, edible, purple beans.
Build a bean tower this summer! You will have beautiful bean plants that are up off the ground and easy to harvest, and your child will have a secret, shady hideaway to play in throughout the summer.
