Go big on beans with this fantastic frame

Mark Rayner shows how to build a frame that makes bean picking easy.

You will need: 2 x 100mm stainless steel, piece of trellis measuring l.2m x 1.8m. 50mm x 50mm treated timber cut to: four pieces measuring 1.9m for the legs, four pieces measuring l.2m for the top and bottom supports. PVC coated washing line, 4 x metal brackets, 75mm galvanised jolt head nails, 30mm galvanised flat head nails, galvanised fencing staples, 600mm length of galvanised chain, two 100mm stainless steel or zinc plated butt hinges, exterior PVA glue, hammer, large set square, pliers, screwdriver and paintbrush. Resene Quick Dry acrylic primer undercoat and Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Red Hot.

Note: To secure the bean frame, stand it upright (you may need two people for this), then sink the metal brackets into lightly cultivated soil until the bottom of each leg is just touching the ground. Then firm down the soil around each bracket. This frame could also support a cucumber or an ornamental climber, such as sweet peas, up its other side. It could also be used as a screen in the flower garden.

Top tip: To secure the frame even further you can sink two garden stakes into the ground at either end and fix them to the bean frame with galvanised bolts.

Step one
Working on a level surface such as concrete, attach the trellis to two legs with 30mm nails and PVA glue, then attach two top and bottom supports, as shown, fixing them at each corner with two 75mm nails and PVA glue.

Step two
Turn the panel over and attach the trellis to the top and bottom supports, using 30mm nails and PVA glue.

Step three
Construct a similar rectangular frame using the other two legs, and top and bottom supports. Again, fix at each corner with two 75mm nails and PVA glue. Use a large set square to ensure the corners are at right angles.

Step four
Attach the length of washing line to the back of the front panel using staples, as shown, and ensure each length is evenly spaced about 150mm apart. Cut the washing line with pliers.

Step five
Place the two panels on top of each other and fix together, screwing the butt hinges at either end of the top edge, as shown.

Step six
Paint the trellis and wooden frame with one coat of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat and allow to dry for at least an hour.

Step seven
Paint the trellis and wooden frame with two coats of Resene Red Hot, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step eight
Span the length of chain across one end of the bean frame, about 70cm from the bottom. Fix either end with a staple - this will stop the frame opening too far. Screw metal brackets to each foot, as shown.

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