Start with a 9’ length. Cut 4 more pieces 2’ long for cross braces. Mark the centers of the cross braces. Use a hammer to pound the centers flat. This will let you use shorter screws and make the support more secure.
Next drill holes to pass #8 screws in the center of the cross braces. Also drill another hole near each end. Drill a hole completely through the 9' pole near the top for a cross brace. Drill a second hole at right angles to and about 1 3/4" below the first holes. Drill a second set about 2 ½’ up from the bottom of the pole for the lower cross braces. Use #8 screws, lock washers, and nuts to mount the cross braces to the vertical pole. Stainless steel screws, washers, and nuts are recommended.
Run some strong wire through the holes at the ends of the cross braces to form the squares as shown in the drawing. I like steel electrical fence wire. It is very strong and pretty inexpensive.
Prepare the soil when it has warmed enough for beans. This is after your last frost. Pound the support into the ground so it goes about 2 feet in. Plant your bean seeds about 3’ apart all the way around and just outside the wire square formed by the bottom cross braces.
Finally, tie strings every few inches from the top wire to the bottom wire for the beans to climb on. I use garden twine. The strings are not shown in the drawing. In the fall I can just cut the string off along with the dead vines and put it on the compost pile. |