Pole beans are phaseolus vulgaris, or âcommon beanâ. The term Pole means that the plant is a climbing bean, a vine which will grow up poles, corn, fences, lazy dogs, etx â they can get vigourous under the right conditions. Iâve seen pole beans 20â up the side of a barn. Bush beans are also phaseolus vulgaris, and will cross breed with pole beans if you really try. The difference is that Bush refers to a genetic trait which retards the climbing nature of the bean, and strengthens the stems, allowing it to stand on itâs own stem, rather than supporting itâs weight on another object. The big difference is that per square foot, pole beans are at least twice as productive as bush beans. But you need to erect something for them to grow on, or plant them next to a fence.
Runner beans are phaseolus coccineus, a different breed which will not cross pollinated with phaseolus vulgaris. AFAIK, all runner beans have the âPoleâ trait, and are climbers â well, at least all of the most common garden and ornamental varieties. Runner beans are known for their âpretty flowersâ, generally a scarlet or scarlet and white combination â and are commonly grown as a climbing ornamental.
As for container growing â sure thing!
Pole beans do awesome in containers. One of my five favorite container plants actually, peas, pole-beans, cucumbers, mesclun/leaf lettuce, and peppers.
Just give them something to climb. The traditional typee works, but in containers Iâve had more luck using a âTâ made out a 4â and 3â piece of scrap lumber, with five or more (depending on container size) cords running from the T to holes drilled in the walls of the container. I used a 20 gallon flower pot that I picked up out of somebodyâs trash last year. Only problem is that the beans hang inside the massive dome of leaves that youâll get from this set up. Not as easy to pick as in the garden, but more productive per square foot I believe.
Runner beans are phaseolus coccineus, a different breed which will not cross pollinated with phaseolus vulgaris. AFAIK, all runner beans have the âPoleâ trait, and are climbers â well, at least all of the most common garden and ornamental varieties. Runner beans are known for their âpretty flowersâ, generally a scarlet or scarlet and white combination â and are commonly grown as a climbing ornamental.
As for container growing â sure thing!
Pole beans do awesome in containers. One of my five favorite container plants actually, peas, pole-beans, cucumbers, mesclun/leaf lettuce, and peppers.
Just give them something to climb. The traditional typee works, but in containers Iâve had more luck using a âTâ made out a 4â and 3â piece of scrap lumber, with five or more (depending on container size) cords running from the T to holes drilled in the walls of the container. I used a 20 gallon flower pot that I picked up out of somebodyâs trash last year. Only problem is that the beans hang inside the massive dome of leaves that youâll get from this set up. Not as easy to pick as in the garden, but more productive per square foot I believe.
