I’ve tried a variety of supports for climbing beans but this is my preferred method. I cross over pairs of 2.1m bamboo canes in a line, pushed into the soil as far as I can. I secure the tops tightly to a horizontal cane with a cable tie. At the ends I use 2.1m plastic coated metal stakes. The canes will last a few years if you store them somewhere dry when the season’s finished. If it’s too windy where you ar for climbing beans, sow some bush beans instead.
You could use the same support arrangement for training cucumbers, pumpkins and tomatoes vertically, although they’d need tying in, whereas beans twine themselves around. I also use string to support cucumbers, tomatoes and pumpkins if I’ve got a strong overhead support. I twist the stems round it as they grow and pinch out the side shoots.
You might need to water this week after the windy, dry weather – particularly seeds and seedlings. Keep sowing seeds, weeding, mulching, planting out seedlings. Water with seaweed tea weekly. Pinch out the side shoots of your tomatoes at the same time.
There are a few places left on the last fresh food garden course of 2009 on Saturday 5 December.