I received 2 pole bean vines from a friend, and although I'm getting some pods, it's not nearly enough for a side dish – just about 2 pods here and there. This year has been tough growing-wise with poor weather, but I really enjoy the beans. I'm wondering how many plants I should consider for next year to actually get a decent harvest. Additionally, I'm having trouble controlling my plants; I set up a 6 ft tall hardware cloth enclosure with a trellis inside, but they keep escaping. I've tried retraining them, but one vine even broke free completely, and I can't reach it anymore. Any advice?
5 Answers
I usually find that about 5 plants works well for one person. They grow on my 6' trellis and keep producing for a couple of months. It typically takes about 60 to 70 days for them to really start showing pods. Pictures can help you figure out your setup issues, though!
I personally do bush beans and plant about 30 seeds. Then, I wait a few weeks and plant another batch beside them. This way, I get a staggered harvest without overwhelming my garden space!
I reckon around 10 plants is a sweet spot, but I sometimes wish I had even more so I could store extras. Just make sure to give them enough space to grow!
If you're struggling with production, it might be due to too much nitrogen in your soil. I've had my pole beans do much better when I used a Mykos inoculant in the past. Might be worth looking into for next year!
My husband and I planted around 50 plants, and let me tell you, we are flooded with beans! So, if you aim for a number, it’s somewhere between 2 and 50 plants for a good harvest. Just keep in mind that more means more to manage!
Here's a photo of my setup! You can see the plants on the right side of the trellis and how they cluster at the top. They sometimes grab onto the trellis roof instead of just drooping down, which might be causing your problem. Mine are in a raised bed, and it's been a learning experience!
