- Last year my pole beans grew to 1 meter high then stopped growing. I used new seeds. What can I do this year?
- What is a good plant for a large pot that will get 5-6’ high and grow in full sun?
Q. Last year my pole beans grew to 1 meter high then stopped growing. I used new seeds. What can I do this year?
To determine why your beans stopped growing their true height make sure your site is receiving full sun
(6-8 hours) per day.
Were you planting in the ground or in pots? Was there any sign of wilting or discolouration? Any insect damage such as chewed leaves or deposits on the leaves?
One reason beans stop growing is when temperatures get too high. For pole beans it is over 32 C. If they were in a sheltered site temperatures could have reached that high during the afternoon.
Were the plants given enough root depth and width? Beans like good circulation around them and dislike being wet. Fungus can develop quickly if beans are crowded or handled when wet.
Beans produce their own nitrogen so a fertilizer should be low in that ratio. A good balanced fertilizer is
5:10:10 or 5:10:15. Soil too rich in nitrogen will stunt growth.
Did your beans produce flowers last year? If any pods developed that were unpicked the plant will shut
down growth.
Make sure to pick all pods and look for hidden ones.
Consistent deep moisture is needed. Especially as growth begins adequate moisture delivered to the soil
is necessary. Hot afternoons can dry soil out quickly.
Sources
https://www.westcoastseeds.com/blogs/wcs-academy/beans
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-green-beans-1403459
Backyard Bounty The Complete Guide to Year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest by
Linda Gilkeson. New Society Publishers, 2011.
Photo: “Week 8: Blue Lake pole beans” by SlummervilleFarm is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Q. What is a good plant for a large pot that will get 5-6’ high and grow in full sun?
I don’t know if you have space to bring plants in for the winter. A few on this list fit that criteria but
others can be left outdoors all year.
- Tibouchina urvilleanna: This is a tropical looking plant with large purple flowers. It must be sheltered
from the wind and brought in for winter. Zones 9-11. - Bamboo: The clumping varieties do well in pots and can grow tall. They need loose, acidic soil that is
well drained. Select a variety for sun. - Bougainvillea: The papery flowers are called bracts with small true flowers inside. For height the plant
can be bought trained as a tree. Place out of wind. Zones 9-11. Must be brought inside for winter. - Canna Lily: There are varieties that grow tall and are good as privacy screens. This is another tropical
looking plant. Zone 8-11. They are best brought in before frost. They need wet soil so keep container
watered. - Colocasia: Known also as elephant ears. This is a tropical plant with massive leaves in green, chartreuse
or black. This plant requires moist soil and must be brought indoors for winter. - Thuja occidentalis: Emerald cedar. Not a true cedar. This is a popular choice for tall, narrow growth. The
plant does not require pruning. It is an evergreen and can stay outside all year in our climate. - Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’: A grass that can stay outside all year in our climate. This is a
tidy looking, non flopping plant which creates a clean vertical line. The seed heads persist through
winter. Royal Horticulture Society Award of Merit plant.
Sources
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/72074/calamagrostis-x-acutiflora-karl-foerster/details
https://www.thespruce.com/the-best-tall-plants-for-containers-4142017