[digital_biscuit]

Hey all

Quick question that kept me awake last night. What do you use to support your peas and how tall are these supports?

Cheers
Daz

[noshed]

All the books say twiggy sticks - but what if you haven't got any? I use a few canes with a bit of netting wire/string in between, whatever is lying about behind my shed. I tied a couple of the plants in at first but now they're bigger they seem to scramble up OK.

[mashauk]

Pea sticks.

[Hazel Anne]

I was wondering that but felt a bit thick to ask!!!
Do they climb themselves like runner beans?
Mine havent even popped up out of the pots yet,,,,,,,,am i late and should they be in the ground?

[GrannieAnnie]

I've had Alderman for the last 2 years which grow to 6ft, so grew them up canes like runner beans, but the ones I've got now shorter, so I'll probs do the shorter caes and netting as I don't really have anything twiggy enough.

[Hazel Anne]

PS, Thanks for asking the question,,,,i think im a bit shy in my old age!!!!!!

[Hazel Anne]

Why do they need netting?is that to cover them or for them to climb?

[Beejay]

I use climbing plant plastic netting' purchased at Homebase!

[GreenOwl]

For them to climb.

I've never managed to collect enough twiggy sticks so I used canes and netting last year.

I tend to choose dwarf semi-self-supporting varieties.  I planted two rows and made a tent shape out of canes and netting.  I got some u-shaped canes from Wilkos which I'm going to use with netting this year.

Are you late?  No I don't think so.  I usually sow direct and I sowed half a row yesterday, that's all I've sown so far (I'm trying to plant successionally to make the crop last longer).

I read somewhere that peas won't climb up twiggy sticks that have been used as pea sticks before.  Anyone know if its true? and does it apply to netting (have I got to buy new netting)?

[Hazel Anne]

We havent got a Wilkos but went for an overnight micro break to Weymouth last week.
They had one but hubby said were not there to shop we are there to look at boats,boats and boats,his hobby is fishing so i walked past Wilkos and longingly peeped in the window!!!!!!!

[digital_biscuit]

Cheers for the advice guys, about the lateness, i sowed all mine in may last year and got a great crop! albeit very unsupported!!!

[DD.]

This has been asked recently, but can't put my hands on my reply for a link!

So, repeating myself, (as usual), as I grow too many peas to find bean sticks for, I string several levels of twine between canes or lengths of wood. Hope this piccie helps..

[WhippetMaster]

Thats a big fine rack of greenies!!!!! Makes mine look like aphids in a bucket.

[SnooziSuzi]

I agree that netting, canes or twiggy sticks are fine for growing peas, but whatever you do use, make sure there's enough space for the breeze to blow through otherwise you could end up with powdery mildew which is what I got on mine last year from cropping them too close together.

Oh well,  we live and learn!