CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



239 



pole limas are the same as for pole, snap or shell beans. 



Limas are sometimes started in hotbeds or green- 

 houses, in which case the seed should not be sown longer 

 than four weeks in advance of field planting. Pots or 

 berry baskets may be used for this purpose. They should 

 be filled with light, rich soil and about four beans planted 

 in each pot or basket. By this method the plants may be 

 set in the field without any disturbance of the roots, and 

 edible beans should be obtained at least two weeks 

 sooner than from field plantings. 



311. Supporting pole beans. Poles ranging in length 

 from 7 to 9 feet are generally used for the support of 

 climbing varieties. The bark is left on them, as the rough 



FIG. 60. WIRE TRELLIS FOR BEANS 



surface is an advantage to the twining plants. They are 

 placed at the time of planting. If kept under cover when 

 not in use, they will last several years. 



Various forms of wire supports are used when the 

 beans are planted in drills. This method of support is 

 regarded as an advantage by many growers. Some home 

 gardeners prefer the heavy types of poultry netting, 

 especially for lima varieties. An excellent plan, although 

 more troublesome than the pole method of support, is to 

 plant and brace fairly heavy posts at the ends of the 

 rows with lighter posts at intervals of 20 feet, the posts 

 extending 5 or 6 feet above ground. A No. 10 wire is 

 stretched over the tops of the posts, and another near 

 the ground. The two wires are connected in a zigzag 

 manner with light twine, as shown in Figure 60. 



