Sugar snap peas are popular, sweet, and crunchy vining vegetables that require support. Tall, climbing varieties benefit significantly from a sturdy structure to grow on. Providing a trellis or stake is necessary for a healthy plant and a successful harvest.
Understanding How Sugar Snap Peas Grow
Sugar snap peas are naturally climbing plants that use specialized structures called tendrils to ascend. These small, wiry growths coil rapidly when they touch a slender object, securing the vine to a support. This mechanism allows the plant to grow vertically toward sunlight.
Vining sugar snap varieties commonly reach mature heights between five and eight feet tall. Without a trellis, these vines cannot sustain their own weight and will flop over into a tangled mound on the ground. The tendrils are designed to wrap around supports less than a quarter-inch thick, such as twine or netting strands. If the plant cannot find a suitable anchor, its growth can be significantly stunted because the vine only continues to grow when it feels securely attached.
Essential Support Structures
Because of the plant’s vining nature, the support structure should ideally be installed at the time of planting the seeds. This allows the young seedlings to immediately latch onto the base of the trellis, preventing stress and damage later on. For the most common varieties that grow six to eight feet tall, the support should match this height to accommodate the full growth potential.
A popular and effective option is the A-frame trellis, which provides a self-supporting structure that maximizes space. Simple vertical supports, such as nylon garden netting or wire mesh, can be stretched between wooden or metal stakes. Trellis netting is often available with five- to six-inch openings, making it easy for the plant to climb and for the gardener to harvest.
For gardeners using smaller varieties or container gardening, a tomato cage can serve as a suitable support for plants under three feet. Another simple, inexpensive method involves using natural branch prunings or sturdy sticks sunk into the soil. Regardless of the material, the grid of the support should be no less than one inch square to provide enough grip for the tendrils.
The Impact of Growing Unsupported
Failing to provide vertical support has several negative consequences for the sugar snap pea plant and the eventual yield. When vines sprawl on the ground, they create a dense, messy clump that suffers from poor air circulation. This lack of airflow, combined with damp soil contact, increases the plant’s vulnerability to soil-borne fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and various forms of rot.
The yield is also negatively affected when vines are unsupported. The pea pods that touch the ground become easily accessible to slugs and other crawling pests, resulting in damaged or spoiled produce. Furthermore, harvesting is extremely difficult as tangled vines make it challenging to locate the pods without damaging the fragile stems. Allowing the vines to climb ensures pods are held at a convenient height, promoting regular picking and greater overall production.