August 11, 2019

Build Your Own Bean Tunnel

Okay, to the question, “Why a bean tunnel?”, I answer “Why Not!”. The pole type beans can grow to ten feet high and need a support structure of some kind anyway. They produce more beans than the “bush type’ beans and they are much more fun to watch grow.

The second answer is simple the kids will love it! They can hide in there and won’t mind when you ask them to go and pick beans for dinner.

Isn’t this what summer is all about? Creating excitement and wonder on the farm for the entire family. This is a very inexpensive project that you can create in one afternoon and the kids will love to help you build it. Watching their faces as the anticipation (and beans) grow, can be just as rewarding. So, let’s get to work building a silly bean tunnel.

Materials required –

8 2x4x8’ dry

1 bundle of 12’ furring strips

1 Box 2 ½ inch deck screws

Tools required-

Cordless drill driver

6 foot ladder

I think that the best height for one of these tunnels is right around 7 feet. This will keep your beans at arms reach. It is also plenty tall, as the beans can grow right over the top and down the opposite side with no bad side effects.

Step 1

Lay down 3 of the 8 foot 2x4s six feet apart to create one side.

Lay three 2x4s six feet apart to begin building one side of the bean tunnel

Step 2

Overlay six 12 foot furring strips across these 8 footers at 1′, 2’, 3′, 4’, 5′, and 6’. Screw these down to each 2×4 with 2 ½ inch screws.

Lay six 12 foot furring strips across the 2x4s and secure them with decking screws

Step 3

Repeat step 2 to create a second wall, identical to the first one.

You should now have both walls of the bean tunnel built

Step 4

Now lay both walls out top to top so the 2x4s are overlapping each other by about a foot. Fasten them together using three 2 ½” wood screws, through the uprights at the intersection points.

lay the walls out end to end and fasten the overlapping 2x4s together with one 2 ½” decking screw at each overlap point

Step 5

Now get ready to use your muscles and teach this thing to stand up. You may have to use a ladder to be able to push the center up high enough for it to stand.

Now, fold the structure at the top joints so it stands up and takes shape

Step 6– Optional

I have also included 2 more 8 footers to attach to the bases at both ends for further stability. These plants will add weight and we don’t need her coming down on us if we are inside picking beans! If you think that you need them, don’t hesitate to use them. I chose not to use them and so far so good.

Step 7– Optional

The final thing I did before actually planting my beans was I went ahead and mulched inside the tunnel with some very old hay. I just thought that it would be difficult to weed inside of it and it’s one less thing to worry about.

Mulch under the bean tunnel to prevent weeds from growing

Planting the Bean Tunnel

I dug a shallow trench along the outside of the 2 tunnel walls and I added some nice rich compost.

Dig a trench at the base of both walls of the bean tunnel and fill with rich compost or gardening soil

I decided at the last minute to plant beans and cucumbers on my tunnel. They will be planted at 8 inch intervals on the outside of the tunnel structure.

I watered the holes first and then as I pulled the plants free, I broke the roots up before planting. This helps the plants settle in easier and faster. I planted these bean plants deep to help the plant develop more roots and stability.

Since beans are notoriously hard to transplant I also planted bean seeds in between as a safety measure. The bottom bean plant in the right picture is actually the one I grew with my DIY self-watering planter!

Bean and cucumber plants are transplanted, alternated with bean seeds as a backup measure

As you can see that first step up is a long one, so you will need to “train” them to climb, simply by encouraging them in the right direction. It will not take much encouragement.

Bean Tunnel Progress

3 Weeks

The beans and cucumbers are climbing up nicely

I draped some ropes over the top of the structure in a criss-cross fashion to make it easier for the beans and cucumbers to climb up. This will save me some effort in having to train them upward.

5 Weeks

After 5 weeks, the cucumbers have climbed all the way and are looking great. The beans have taken a bit longer but they are almost there as well!

The cucumbers have made their way all the way up and the beans are almost there

The mulch I put inside has worked great at stifling the weeds also! After over a month, the area under the bean tunnel is nice and clear.

Mulching helped prevent weed growth underneath the bean tunnel

After 8 Weeks

After nearly two months, the beans are still steadily climbing the walls and the tunnel is looking great!

The beans have reached the top of the structure

The Bounty

I’ve been harvesting beans and cucumbers every couple of days and the bounty is plentiful! We’ve been having fresh beans and cucumbers with almost every meal lately!

Fresh green beans and cucumbers almost every night for dinner!

Conclusion

So, I hope that you build your own silly little bean tunnel and that you and your kids enjoy the heck out of it. I will keep posting updates as the tunnel progresses!

This has been a great summer so far, and I wish so many wonderful things for you as the year progresses. Thanks for spending some time with me.

I wish you…

Love, Peace and Light!

Terry

Thistle Downs Farm

About the Author…

Terry has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He has taught in the New York State School system for 18 years, where he teaches Career and Financial Management, Agricultural Business, Marketing and Distribution, Sports Management, Wildlife Conservation Management, and Resort and Recreation Management. His time has also been spent as an FFA advisor for 12 years and he has been farming his 100-acre family farm since 1991. Terry has a deep love of all types of agriculture and takes every opportunity to promote agricultural education.

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