I've just had to cut down a Eucalyptus tree and there were about 14 reasonably straight branches which I have stripped of smaller branches with the intention of using for beans. Does anyone see any reason why I should not use these free resources?
Thank you
no good idea use em
Not sure how easily it roots... so strip the bark from the bit you stick in the ground... :-X
Quote from: saddad on March 17, 2011, 15:28:52
Not sure how easily it roots... so strip the bark from the bit you stick in the ground... :-X
I was thinking / wondering the same thing, as I have some willow that I was going to use as pea sticks, and thought they might root easily. Was debating whether to stick the ends in a bucket of wood preservative to make sure they didn't root! How off the mark am I on this?
Eucalyptus grows at a staggering rate. I put two trees in five years ago, there now well over 70 feet and tower over the surrounding garden.
It did occur to me that having such a mega growth rate, they must be ideal for coppicing and pollarding.
I used willow once, and it all grew. I'm not sure about Eucalyptus.
Willow is renown for its ability to sprout. No experience of Eucalyptus but when I used ash the beans died. Sycamore ok. I once used some blackcurrant for pea supports and they all rooted as well even though I was sure it was well dead.
My Bean poles date from the Second World War, they're steel rods which were used for airfield perimeter fencing. They're probably good for another 20 years (that would be 90 years). With that length of life it would probably pay to buy a set of new concrete reinforcing rods.
Some people on my site use scaffolding poles.
It is unlikely the eucalyptus poles will grow, unlike willow. They are usually propagated from seed and are quite difficult to germinate unless you can provide the right hot / cold balance.
As to their effect on your beans and surrounding soil ... not really sure. Eucalyptus oil is quite a powerful anti-fungal / anti-bacterial, so would proceed with caution.
I despair about them being sold in garden centres for the uninformed and unsuspecting to plant in their garden. They are a wonderful tree in the right place; unfortunately the average suburban UK garden just isn't the right place unless you are prepared to keep them under control.
Rant over! :)
Willow will certainly root , eucalyptus I doubt it , although you can layer it quite successfully if your a patient gardener . I notice that new bamboo canes seem to be more green than yellow of late and pricey , but there only good for a couple or 3 seasons , I wonder if they be treated ?
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on March 17, 2011, 20:20:11
Some people on my site use scaffolding poles.
Good for permanent structures but heavy (I'm too lazy) and the shade offends me - as does the difficulty attaching ties.
I swear by old cast-iron pipes from old hot-water systems. They go brown and bumpy but then seem to stop rusting. They are well camouflaged as soon as anything climbs up them (unlike galvanised). They are lighter but very strong and ties don't slip down.
Less likely to get nicked too.
Pity we may never see their like again...
Cheers.
I use old boiler pipes to support a wire mesh fence.. very useful posts they make too... :)
I use aluminium scaffolding poles (free from a skip a couple of years ago) , though after some fun and games getting them in last year I'll be making myself some post-bases for them in concrete using some 8" pots as casting formers.... even with their bases on they should be light enough to move easily enough but are strong and won't rust.... I've got the fittings to put scaffold topbars on them aqnd hang bean and pea netting down from them....I weight the bottom of the nets with lengths of steel reinforcing rod...
would willow root if I painted the ends in wood preservative? If not I'll have to get weaving :)
I use an old children's swing
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm265/Buster1954/Swing.jpg)
Love it Buster, do u grow anything up the ends. ;D ;D ;D
I've grown Achocha and shark's fin up my swing frame... it's not big enough for the shark's fin but would be fine for Veg Spaghetti... :)
Quote from: 1066 on March 19, 2011, 07:34:27
would willow root if I painted the ends in wood preservative? If not I'll have to get weaving :)
I don't know, but it'll still grow if you put a stick in upside-down. It doesn't matter, as the poles are easy to dig out at the end of the year. The sight of beans growing up a growing tree is certainly different!
Hi cornykev I was gonna grow 2 varieties one at the front and one at the back but then I dropped on the polytunnel and decided to grow them at the front as it was a bit close to the tunnel at the back,made picking dead easy as well,didn't bother growing anything up the sides as the beans on the end grew around them :)
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on March 19, 2011, 12:00:47
Quote from: 1066 on March 19, 2011, 07:34:27
would willow root if I painted the ends in wood preservative? If not I'll have to get weaving :)
I don't know, but it'll still grow if you put a stick in upside-down. It doesn't matter, as the poles are easy to dig out at the end of the year. The sight of beans growing up a growing tree is certainly different!
Thanks Robert, I think I will give it a go and see what happens :)
I live next to a cricket bat factory and use lots of willow bits and pieces that they discard. They do sometimes root, but if you strip the leaves off they seem to die eventually.