What climbing plants to use?

[Andy Hamilton]

I am creating a shady spot on my allotment where my bench will go. It was in full sun and so did not get used last year. This year I intend to make a sort of covered arch around it for shade.

I thought of running a load of runner beans on a sort of half sunken wigwam above the bench.

I have now thought perhaps I should plant more climbing plants around it, some that last for longer then a year and will grow near runner beans- any ideas?

[Boots]

You can use bamboo to make an amphitheatre, but then you will prolly lose your bench to your brother who will use it for jamming.

By bench, do you mean seat or table?

Can you grow passionfruit there for shade? Pumpkin will climb too and I have seen that look fantastic on fences. Would they be any good?

[Tay]

If you just want annuals growing there, and useful ones at that, why not have a mixture of runner beans, French beans and lablab beans? Others to grow are nasturtium and sweet peas.

For more permanent, but less useful plants, clematis, wisteria, virginia creeper, honeysuckle and jasmine could be used, but will depend on the size of your arch. Trumpet vine and passionflower are very pretty and fast-growing. And don't forget rambling roses - these remind me of the allotments I used to walk past each day on my way to school... All allotments should have some roses!

Or maybe try a grape vine? It might take a while to get going, but would be lovely in years to come.

[red]

kiwi fruit

tho you might need to get a boy and a girl.

[Karen_D]

If you want more permanent plants honeysuckle copes quite well in shade and the flowers are edible.

Or how about hops? They climb well and I've heard they can be useful...

Wassail

Karen

[Andy Hamilton]

Hops on one side and kiwi fruits on the other sounds like a good plan. Will have to have a look around for seeds.

[pskipper]

Wilkos sell Kiwi fruit plants if you want to get going quicker than seed!

[Andy Hamilton]

Wilkos sell Kiwi fruit plants if you want to get going quicker than seed!

Ah nice one, cheers will have a look.

[longstonelodge]

I am creating a shady spot on my allotment where my bench will go. It was in full sun and so did not get used last year. This year I intend to make a sort of covered arch around it for shade.

I thought of running a load of runner beans on a sort of half sunken wigwam above the bench.

I have now thought perhaps I should plant more climbing plants around it, some that last for longer then a year and will grow near runner beans- any ideas?

use virginia creeper, fast growing and robust