How to make a support for climbers

Sturdy supports are essential in order for climbing crops such as runner beans, climbing French beans and cucumbers to crop well. The plants will need a helping hand, with some tying in to do when plants are young, but once mature they will climb without help. These plants are all ‘tender’ which means that they will be damaged by frost. Wait until the last week of May before planting them out. Plant one plant to one cane, or in slightly exposed situations, add a few more canes to make a more solid structure. Climbing crops that survive winter and get bigger each year such as blackberries and grapes are best grown against walls or up pergolas because they can be very large plants.

You will need

Bamboo canes

Cane support rings

Garden twine

Soft string

Use long, thick, strong bamboo canes for supporting climbing beans. Shorter canes can be used for supporting tomato plants or rows of broad beans