Vine Trellis or Bean Tunnel

Every week we have the pleasure of entertaining twins, now three-years old, who like to pick and immediately eat fruit and veggies from the garden. Images of different trellises with horizontal sections that have beans hanging down look attractive and very functional. How neat would it be to have a long tunnel that was tall enough so hanging beans along the center would not hit your head? If in the shape of an arch, kids can readily choose their favorite colors and pick beans along the sides hanging at their level.

Bean Tunnel: Under Construction

Setup for Bending Arches Over Wood Form

Tools and Fasteners Needed  to Bend and Connect the Aluminum Extrusions Together

I have a lot of aluminum extrusions left over from building solar collectors. One type, 13 feet long, is especially easy to both bend and join together. Trials arrived at arches that use one and a half lengths that are bent to be 80 inches high at the center and eight feet wide at the base, with  each end 8 inches below ground. The tunnel is 51 feet long with 27 arches. To support trellis netting, string and cable lash six members of the same material perpendicular to the arches and run the length of the tunnel.

Early View Looking South

Four kinds of beans, along with some cucumbers and fancy squash, grow on both sides of the arches. To minimize planting effort, only a narrow strip of soil on each side was prepared and heavily mulched. For easy maintenance, both ends of the tunnel have gates so that grass inside the tunnel can be mowed. A knee-high rabbit proof fence around the facility keeps critters from eating the plants. Experience shows that any vine that winds into the fencing has to be rerouted to prevent it from being nibbled off. They must be very tasty.

North End Showing Squash and Trellis Netting

It will be awhile before the various vines climb over the top of the trellis netting, flower and hang their fruit inside!

Inside View Looking North

Gate Prevents Critters from Eating Plants Inside