Staking peas means providing vertical support for the plants to climb. Allowing pea vines to trail along the ground leads to overcrowding and poor results. Elevating the foliage improves air circulation, reducing humidity around the leaves and making the environment less favorable for common fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Preventing the vines and pods from touching the damp soil also lowers the risk of rot and soil-borne pathogens. Vertical growth ensures the plant canopy receives uniform sunlight, leading to healthier growth and increased harvest yield. The supported structure also makes the pods more visible and easier to pick, encouraging consistent harvesting that stimulates the plant to produce new flowers and fruit.
Understanding Pea Varieties and Timing
Peas are classified into two main growth habits: bush (or dwarf) and vining (or climbing) varieties. Bush types typically grow only two to three feet tall and produce their crop all at once, often requiring minimal support. Vining varieties can reach heights of five to eight feet and produce peas over a longer harvest period, requiring a vertical structure.
Determine your variety’s mature height, usually listed on the seed packet, to select an appropriately sized support. Supports must be in place either at the time of planting or shortly after the seedlings emerge. Waiting until the plants are more than six inches tall risks disturbing the fragile root system when driving posts into the ground. Early installation ensures that developing tendrils immediately have a surface to latch onto, preventing the vines from tangling on the ground where they can become a target for pests and rot.
Choosing the Right Support Structure
The selection of a support structure depends on the pea variety, the garden space available, and the materials you have access to. Trellising with netting or wire mesh is the most common method for tall, vining peas and is ideal for maximizing yield in straight-row planting. This method requires sturdy end posts, such as metal T-posts or strong wooden stakes, to bear the weight of the mature vines.
Netting material, such as nylon or plastic, is cost-effective and provides many grip points for the pea tendrils, but it can be difficult to untangle and remove at the end of the season. Wire fencing or livestock panels are a more durable alternative; they are more expensive initially but last for many seasons and are easier to clean.
A rustic method, often called “pea brush,” uses twiggy branches with many small offshoots inserted into the soil. This natural support works best for shorter, bush-type peas or vining varieties up to three feet tall, as the plants can climb the dense network of twigs without further intervention.
The A-frame or teepee structure is suitable for smaller gardens or containers, using three or more poles secured at the top. This design offers excellent stability and allows for planting in a circle, creating a space-efficient vertical garden feature.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installation
For the standard row-planting method using a trellis, installation begins by establishing the vertical posts. Drive the end posts approximately 12 to 18 inches deep into the soil to ensure stability against wind and the weight of the plants. The distance between the posts should align with the length of your netting or wire, and the posts must be tall enough to accommodate the mature height of the pea variety.
Securely attach the bottom edge of the netting or wire to the ground, using landscape pins or weaving it around the base of the posts to prevent the material from lifting. The netting should be pulled taut and fastened to the posts at regular intervals, such as with zip ties or strong garden twine, to create a stable climbing surface.
Plant the pea seeds or seedlings in a single or double row directly at the base of the newly installed support structure. As the seedlings grow to about four inches tall, they may need some gentle initial guidance.
To begin training, carefully position the first few tendrils of the pea vine so they are touching the lowest part of the netting. The plant’s natural thigmotropism, its response to touch, will encourage the tendrils to coil and attach themselves to the structure, allowing the plant to climb naturally.