Monday, October 24, 2011

Safely growing up a chicken fence



For those of you who don’t know I have a chook run that spans the outside of the garden patch. Even though the chickens are currently in the dome preparing the beds, when they are finished (in around 4 weeks) they will return to this outer area. Sometime ago Debbie from my garden group suggested I should grow beans over the wire fence that encloses it. Initially I quickly disregarded the idea thinking it was not the brightest considering chickens annihilate anyting green that comes in neck length of the fence.

The second time she mentioned it it dawned on me how I could make it work. The lower part of the fence is indeed useless but if the beans could climb onto the fence above the chickens reach then it would work. So by planting a foot away from the fence and providing them with a climbing apparatus (technical term for stick)  they can now safely climb out of reach onto the fence. So thanks Debbie for the great idea.


What we have planted here is:

6 x Scarlet runner beans
2 x Climbing beans
3 x Snow peas

I think we may have over planted here. I hope the flimsy fence can cope with the weight.

Do you utilise fences in your garden?

11 comments:

  1. I'm growing a goji berry up mine. I've planted it at the other side of the fence and strategically place a chair in the chook run. So far it's survived.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Frogdancer a strategically place a chair, simple and effective. You have show two thing I am finding common amongst gardeners, ingenuity and resourcefulness.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great idea, I've planted bush beans next to my chook fence, I just assumed that one side of the plants would be savaged. Think I will try your idea as well, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. greenfumb I am pleased the idea may be of use to you too. The idea does seem theoretically sound. Of course we will have to wait to see if it works in practice. Best of luck with yours.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tell me, is is just a co-incidence that Jason spends all the time writing about what is happening in the veggie garden, while all the pictures are of Melanie doing the actual work?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sadsac my gigs up, truth is I don't like getting my hands dirty ;-) The problem is being the blogger I am the one carrying the camera.

    ReplyDelete
  7. we're using fences for grapes and passionfruit but I want to utilise them for espalier eventually. I love the whole idea of using fences and the vertical space especially for smaller garden spaces like mine (and the neighbours love it too) ;) Even though the chooks won't think so I think your angled bean stalks are a great idea. It will be a lovely cool space for them to hang out in summer too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. serendipity2000 I am sure there will be some low hanging beans for the chooks to eat. Yes it should turn out to be a lovely shady spot for them. I only wish I would be able to squeeze behind it with them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the idea of a chook run around the fence...they'll keep the grass down for you! Do have a go at 'Lazy Housewife Beans'...they produce forever and are delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hazel interesting you say that as we just got a pack and have had discussion re them with a few different people now. The question going round is why are they name so? One thought is that peal and cook them selves.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What does it mean and what does a flower picture have to do with the verse? I was thinking about how God can take dirt, something not so pretty, something that I don't enjoy this time of year because it comes in the form of mud, chain link gate

    ReplyDelete

If you don't know which option to select... Name/URL is a recommended option. And you only need to provide a name.