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pole beans #876891

Asked July 11, 2024, 8:43 PM EDT

This is my second year growing Blue Lake pole beans on a trellis in my raised veg. bed with good soil, air circulation, spacing, mulch, water. They were planted June fifth. I cannot fit a ladder in the area to reach the beans. They grow too high. What to do? Prune? How? Unwind them as they exceed my reach and let them hang? I have no other place to grow them.

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

How great that they are so vigorous. As a thought for next year, build a simple, fold-down trellis for them. There is one at the OSU Lane Extension office AG garden right on 10th by the ramp as a model. As to the current problem, it is pretty hard to untangle and bring down the vine, but you could try that. Alternately, use a stool if possible and prune them back to an accessible height. They should go ahead and bear a good crop for you. Any new growth can then also be trained sideways. Be careful if using a step obviously.
Patricia Patterson Replied July 12, 2024, 7:37 PM EDT

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