Like others say, trellis will work for pole beans and can be made free-standing. Last year I grew my climbing beans up some plastic trellis that I got for free(about 2 inch mesh, I think) that I threaded onto long bamboo stakes. I had a stake at either end, and then stakes in the middle about every 2 feet. By the end of the season it was a bit top-heavy because the bamboo has some flex in it, so I may use heavier stakes next time and possibly tie the trellis on with garden twine or light wire. But it definitely works.

Every year, I plant pole beans (Fortex). They come up looking beautiful, they grow to abundance. I get more green beans than I can deal with. However, at some point, the leaves start looking sun bleached, they get this rusty color and will eventually start looking like yours. It never harms production, so I just shrug it off. It's hard to tell how mature your plant is from the photo. Is this toward the beginning of your growing period or the end? Mine don't start yellowing and drying to that extent until they are nearly done producing. But when they do get toward the end of the season, that's what they look like. This post was edited by loribee2 on Wed, Jun 18, 14 at 21:55

If you installed metal t-posts, you could attach Johnny's Hortonova trellis to the T-posts and have a good strong support for your pole beans. You'll have a stronger set-up if you support some of the T-posts front and back, especially posts at end of rows. Re-bars pounded into ground right up against T-posts will do the trick and help prevent T-posts from leaning/falling over in a storm. I've used the Hortonova netting and have been pleased with it. Johnny's also have it in smaller length, plus a similar product called Trellinet . I like the 6 x 6 inch holes that are large enough for my hands when harvesting. (Hortonova/Trellinet's width = your installation's height.) Home D. has T-posts (garden Dept.) and re-bars (w/cement and the like). You'll need a small sledgehammer (cement dept), and cable ties (electrical dept) for attaching the netting to the posts.

Sometimes an animal, bird or rodent, will see the bean skin on the cotyledons and grab it. Sounds like this might be what's happening. I have a similar problem with my free range chickens when I plant things outside of my fenced garden. I find that I can place a barrier, like some chicken wire over the plant, until it's established a bit. That helps. Another thing to try would be to get some large plastic cups and cut out their bottoms. Stick them over each little seedling. Perhaps if the varmint has to reach into the cup to get them, that'll deter him. George Tahlequah, OK