Hi - would like to trade for your Johnny jump up - could I send you my list? Doreen.

I've been considering finding a trader who had a lot to trade, and was looking for about the same number of items as "wants". I would like a large variety in my garden this year without buying all of the seeds. I would be willing to purchase OP, Heirloom seeds of the varieties on your Wants list to split with you if you were willing to trade approx.equal number and quantities of items on your Haves list. Is this something you would be open to? (I know it's kind of a big project, but I figured I'd ask.)

Anney, it seems to work for me. In the old garden, the peas went in when the pole beans were close to being 'done' producing. The pole beans we used were Kentucky wonder, pole wax and purple peacock. The peas we used were pole sugar snaps (Oregon Giant) and pole snow peas. The peas started growing right when we took the beans out. We took them out by cutting the root and leaving the root on the ground. We did not use the beans to help the peas climb, but this did not seem to matter, the peas seem to always know what to do. In another spot (in the new garden in z9), I have bush peas, but they really liked it when I put tomato cages there. I did that in two beds actually, one of them bush sugar snaps, the other bush snow peas. They did not mind little baby tomatoes in the cages either, and the tomatoes do not mind a bit, and thrive with the pea company. Now on the same bed (yes, I do crowd things...) I have a couple of tepees with the yard long type of cow peas. I got those in a trade and planted all the seed I had. They just sprouted and the peas are still pumping out pods, but getting yellow and too hot. By the time all the peas are out, the yard long beans will have more room, and can take over existing trellises. In the fall, I will do the exact same thing in reverse. It does work in both directions, at least here in my climate (zone 9 and previously 10). We do try to have some legume in harvest stage at all times, and so far so good....

Pole beans will spiral tightly around the wires and climb very well. Cleaning them off at the end of the season will be your only concern. I've never cleaned spent bean vines off wire, but I imagine it might be a chore. I would be tempted to burn them off after they dry. Jim