Pole Beans on a Paneled Trellis in the Vegetable Garden

Uses of a Paneled Trellis in the Garden

The purpose of using a paneled trellis in the garden is to help ensure climbing plants are getting support. The trellis method helps crops like tomatoes, beans, peas, or squash grow vertically and keep them off the ground in the garden. Removing them from the ground will help reduce critters and soil-borne diseases from taking over the crop in the garden. Another advantage of using the trellising method is saving space in the garden. If you have a limited garden size, having a trellis system for crops will help them grow vertically and save space alongside several rows.

Paneled Trellis Method

On this week's episode, Travis explains how to properly use pole beans on a paneled trellis in the vegetable garden. Most crops like pole beans, cucumbers, or running butter beans using a garden trellis is a great method. Travis likes to use 16 foot long galvanized cattle panel and support them with a T-post along the row. Typically just two or three T-posts per 16 foot long panels works perfectly. Most of these panels are pretty easy to set up and install, but getting the maximum utility is also important in the garden. Travis installed the panels for growing cucumbers this spring and now he wants to plant pole beans on a paneled trellis. Avoid planting the same crop on the same panel for two consecutive seasons or years. The best option is to rotate these crops to avoid pest and disease pressures. Travis usually plants two crops on this panel one in the spring and one in the fall. Then move the panel to another spot to keep the rotation going in the vegetable garden. For the fall season, he decided to plant Rattlesnake Pole Beans and Christmas Lima Beans. Travis splits the trellis in half when planting the rattlesnake pole beans and the Christmas Lima beans. The rattlesnake pole beans are an heirloom variety with a wonderful flavor profile. This variety can be harvested frequently and produce six to seven-inch pods. The Christmas Lima beans are another productive heirloom variety with another great flavor profile. When planting the beans he likes to take his section hoe and dig out a little trench alongside the cattle panel. This allows him to go in and lay his drip tape underneath and eventually plant there too. You should not try and use the Double Wheel Hoe with the drip tape layer attachment right up against the panel because there is not enough space. So what Travis likes to do is set the drip tape layer at the end of the row and use it as a spool while pulling the tape he needs and walks alongside the trench. He will lay it in the trench with the emitters facing upward. Then, he will lay a light layer of compost along the row to cover the drip tape. The next step is planting those pole beans on the paneled trellis. Travis suggests planting the seeds pretty thick in the furrow alongside the panel. Once the seeds are planted in the furrow he takes his dura rake and pushes some soil on top of the seeds. Then, turn the dura rake over and tamp it down along the row. We have used this method in the past when planting cucumbers in the spring then English peas on the trellis in the fall. Using the trellis year-round in the growing season by rotating the crops will ensure the cattle panel has been used for maximum utility and you have plenty production of vegetables for both the fall and spring seasons.