A bamboo wigwam is a quick and simple way of supporting annual climbers such as sweet peas or runner beans. They can be left their natural colour or can be painted to give an individual look.

Method

1. Prepare the site by clearing weeds and digging. Fork in a balanced fertiliser if the soil is poor.
2. If you want to paint the bamboo canes, sandpaper them first to provide a key. Leave to dry.
3. Insert 6 bamboo canes firmly into the ground, spacing them out to form a circle. You may need to use a metal rod or poker to make the holes.
4. Join the tops of the canes together with a wigwam grip or garden string.
5. Runner beans should be planted after the last frosts, whilst sweet peas can be planted in spring. Space them 25 cm apart, just behind and to one side of each cane.
6. As the plants start to grow, tie them to the support.
7. Remove the canes need at the end of the growing season to prevent them from rotting into the ground.