My "Wagwim"
By Ponty
- 2 Sep, 2009
- 9 likes
This is the inverted wigwam in which I grow very good crops (usually) of Runner Beans on my patio. I generally have two wigwams on my veg. patch but this allows the beans to fall straight and is convenient for my wife to nip out for a meal's supply without having to trapse to the back of the garden. Crops have been excellent in the past but this year, I am told, has not been a particularly good year in my immediate area. Although heavily watered, I think runners prefer the rainwater, which has been scarce since July! It is looking a bit sad now and the few beans that are left will not be good enough to eat..
Comments on this photo
I would love to read how you do this Ponty, good topic for a blog?
13 Oct, 2009
good idea ponty ,useful to have it so handy for your wife too.
13 Oct, 2009
That's a good idea Ponty. A blog on how to do this would be good.
16 Oct, 2009
Gilli
Drc726 suggested this but I didn’t think anyone else would be interested so I sent it to him privately. Here goes though.
The idea of what I call my “Wagwim” came to me about 4 years ago. I get very good crops from it and as I said, being on the edge of the patio, my wife can just nip out and pick them.
I just use a large pot (20 inch) with outward-sloping sides and slide eight canes in along the edge. This sets them about 8 inches apart. Keeping the tops rigid was a problem for a few years. I tried wire but this was not rigid enough. Earlier this year we had new curtain rails and I used an old one to make it more inflexible. A little over 2 metres, I secured the ends with 4 small bolts and it made a perfect ring. I secure the tops of the canes with wire. I have only been using 5 foot canes but I am planning on 6 foot ones next year. The only drawback I have found is that when in full leaf it can be susceptible to high winds and has blown over a few times (without damage, I might add). A pot with a larger base would be better.
I find that I can get good crops with up to 16 plants. One alongside each cane and another in a ring about 4 inches in, between the canes. Some might think this is a bit close but I don’t find it a problem.
I would like to try it out in my veg. patch because the beans fall straighter and you don’t have to scrabble into the interior but the problem of rigidity is greater.
16 Oct, 2009
I think it's a brilliant idea particularly if someone has limited space. I've added it to my favourites for future reference
16 Oct, 2009
Mine too! :~)) Brilliant idea!!
1 Nov, 2009
It a brill idea shame about the water perhaps its best to buy a water but to catch the rain when it does fall and save to water your beans
22 Nov, 2009
I do have a water butt Morgana but we had so little rain after July that I used it all and had to use tapwater. Plenty of rain since!!!
23 Nov, 2009
You will have to get another water butt and collect while you can, when its full stick a lid it not to evapourate, its terrible this weather cant tell whats what and what to grow for the best, in plants and veg.
23 Nov, 2009
It's full to the brim now, when we don't need it. Let's all hope for a nice hot summer next year with plenty of overnight rain. :>))
23 Nov, 2009
Yes I will go with that, that to me would be the perfect weather, although they are going to put the new nuclea stations underground, so I am wondering how that will effect the ground and weather.
23 Nov, 2009
I should not think that should be a factor, Morgana. I think, personally they should be better underground. Problem is, we must have energy and whatever means of creating it upsets people - wind farms are popular with some and unpopular with others, for instance. The obvious answer would seem to be wave power but no one has, apparently, devised an effective way of harnessing it. If and when they do there will still be some opposition. If we try to control the waves will this affect the weather to some degree? It is out of our hands so we must go with the flow!
23 Nov, 2009
I have just found information about the weather I seen on tv some months ago about usa controling it, with blue beam, I found it funny how the 1 in a thousand year in Cumbria, so left a link on Bobg s page on picture of Cumbria
you might find intersting the video is up but information is still there, was on the 1st June 2009 this year. I do know they are trying to cut down population by 80% of the world I listen to radio Talk Sport late at night when all mps , usa radio links, Jim Marrs etc go one.
23 Nov, 2009
Very, very sceptical about the Blue Beam Project. Far beyond my scientific knowledge and the responses appear to be muddled and largly political.
23 Nov, 2009
I know they can do beams in the sky for Bithdays over here how that works , I have nt got a clue, it would suprise me about it being political at all even thought it does nt say it was in the link.
23 Nov, 2009
All we simple mortals can do is sit back and wait.
23 Nov, 2009
I never sit back and wait, as I am of Welsh stock and they are fighters he he.
23 Nov, 2009
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This is a fascinating idea...
Yes, rainwater is so useful..
I have water butts, and I even keep extra rainwater in several plastic dustbins !
I recently wrote a blog about starting cuttings in rainwater....
you might find that interesting... my blog number 20.
2 Sep, 2009