Grow your own bean teepee
If you’ve got an allotment or a bit of space in the garden, here’s a way you can build a secret den!
To get started, you’ll need:
- 8-10 tall bamboo canes or branches – make sure they’re taller than you and you get an adult to remove any sharp ends
- Bean seeds – any pole bean or runner bean works great (you can also use sweet peas or garden peas)
- Pots and compost
- Gardening wire or string
Step 1: Find the perfect spot
- Beans grow better with lots of sun, so choose a bright spot
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Mark out a circle and work out how big you want your teepee to be
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Clear away any grass or weeds and add some compost if you need to
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Push your canes or branches into the ground – space them out and leave room for a door
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The poles will need tied together at the top with wire and string – ask a tall adult to help you with this bit
Step 2: Sow your seeds
Plant a bean seed on each side of every pole, around 5cm deep and water them
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Your plants should appear in about a week
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Once they’re tall enough, you can tie the stems to your teepee poles with some string
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If you pinch the tops of your bean plants, they’ll branch out and cover your teepee better
Step 3: Design your den
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Once your teepee starts to take shape, you can start designing your den
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Add rugs for a picnic spot, create a sign to keep adults out or even add some herbs or flowers around it
If you make a teepee, we’d love to see how it turns out. Share pictures of your secret hideout using #DobbiesLittleSeedlings and tag us.