Pole Beans: Container Size?
 

Last year, I grew pole beans in 10-gallon 'Smart Pots' and wound up with a ridiculous amount of beans (I'm sure the Urban Farm fertilizers and 'planting by the signs' didn't hurt). HOWEVER...I received a wide variety of beans from Tormato in the swap. Most are smaller quantities (10 or less), and I was wondering how small a container I could get away with using. As an example...I have THREE 'Flagg' beans. Could I get away with planting them in 3-gallon pots or 'Grow Bags', as long as I provide the prerequisite 'teepee' for them to grow on? Just not sure how much room 'container-wise' I need to provide for pole beans...:?!?:

I'm thinking...stick with the 10-gallon smart pots. Plant 3 or 4 varieties in it, about 3 to 4 seeds for each variety, seeds about 6" apart from each other, each variety climbing up it's own pole, in either a 3 or 4 pole teepee setup. I'd stick with beans that you have large quantities of, if experimenting with 3-gallon pots or growbags. Unless of course, someone chimes in and says these other options work fine.



[QUOTE=tnpeppers;468074]Last year, I grew pole beans in 10-gallon 'Smart Pots' and wound up with a ridiculous amount of beans (I'm sure the Urban Farm fertilizers and 'planting by the signs' didn't hurt). HOWEVER...I received a wide variety of beans from Tormato in the swap. Most are smaller quantities (10 or less), and I was wondering how small a container I could get away with using. As an example...I have THREE 'Flagg' beans. Could I get away with planting them in 3-gallon pots or 'Grow Bags', as long as I provide the prerequisite 'teepee' for them to grow on? Just not sure how much room 'container-wise' I need to provide for pole beans...:?!?:[/QUOTE]

How deep of soil do beans need? Do they have a big root ball?

[QUOTE=luigiwu;468818]How deep of soil do beans need? Do they have a big root ball?[/QUOTE]
Pole Beans are medium rooting. 18-24" depth is recommended, but you could probably get by with a few inches less.

I'm 'planting by the signs', and it looks like May 18th and 19th are go days for the beans, and the following two days are best for 'maters and peppers; so I will need to have my ducks in a row by then. Thanks to everyone for advice and info.

Can you tell me what "planting by the signs" is?
Thanks
Nematode