Interplanting between Climbing Beans

[hopalong]

I'm growing climbing beans - french and borlotti - in a trench about 18 in wide, with canes on either side in the traditional "tent" arrangement.  I've not tried growing anything along the middle of the trench before but want to make use of the space. I have seen some people growing cabbages in theirs. Is this a good idea and does anyone have any other suggestions?

[hopalong]

[shirlton]

I'm afraid anything that was planted in between our beans wouldn't see the light of day

[Duke Ellington]

Last year I grew some lettuce inbetween my runner and french "A" frame and will do the same this year. The lettuce was cut long before the beans took over. A bit of shade is good for lettuce.

Duke

[Digeroo]

I have grow broad leaved cress among runner beans, keeps slugs at bay, and gives a quick green salad crop, but once the beans get going I hoe it in as a mulch, not much light and I twould have thought that the cabbages will take the moisture and nutriants from the beans.  I have put psb and kale amonst the broad beans once they are nearly finished.  

I grow several sowing of runners last go in mid july so I have lettuce in the space, until beans arrive.

[Dadnlad]

We once planted out our last 3 coli's in between the runners due to lack of space, and they grew fine - possibly because the cabbage whites couldnt find them ? ::)

[Plot69]

I always thought beens needed a light, open, highly manured soil for a good root run whereas cabbages and brassicas in general needed a less recently manured soil roughly the same  consistency as concrete.

[sawfish]

I reckon if you plant a couple of trailing squash now, they'll crawl beyond the bean suppots pretty quick, so only the root area will be in shade.

Thats my plan this year.

[saddad]

One of our "old hands" always puts his bedding primrose/primulas in the middle of his Runners for the summer....  :-\

[PurpleHeather]

Yes, quick growing lettuce or radish type veg will grow to an edible size before the beans get to a size to cover them from much of the light. 

[Robert_Brenchley]

I plant squashes under my climbing beans. Last year was the only time it hasn't worked, but I think that was down to waterlogging.

[hopalong]

Thanks for the great ideas.  I've got a couple of spare squash plants, so I'm going to try out that idea.

[Digeroo]

There is also the three sisters bit, with beans, sweet corn and courgettes.  Gets in a bit of a tangle.  Need small beans or it pulls the sweet corn over

[saddad]

Try Trail of Tears... one of the original three sisters...  :)

[tim]

I would have thought that interplanting would have taken much needed goodness from the Beans?

[Borlotti]

I have planted some sweet peas at either end of my bean frame and they seem quite happy there.

[mpdjulie]

i was thinking of planting my spinach seedlings around my runner bean frame.  Would this be a good idea?

[pippy]

I planted Parsley (moss curled) under my beans last year with quite good result.

[dingerbell]

Try Trail of Tears... one of the original three sisters...  :)

Of course not forgetting that 3 sisters was initiated in the Americas where climate and varieties planted were different to what we can expect over here. I tried it and ended up with a gurt tangle..never again!
Chris.. :)

[Kea]

I grew beetroot under my french beans last year.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Of course not forgetting that 3 sisters was initiated in the Americas where climate and varieties planted were different to what we can expect over here. I tried it and ended up with a gurt tangle..never again!
Chris.. :)

They used to leave everything till it was ripe, and use the  dried beans. I can imagine you getting in a tangle if you wanted to pick green beans!