[Salmo]

I am growing tall peas for the first time this year. Any tips?

[sunshineband]

I am growing tall peas for the first time this year. Any tips?

Take the eventual weight and wind resistance of the plants into account when planning their support. I made the mistake of growing them on wigwams last year and the weight of the plants dragged them down off the frame, providing a perfect perch for pigeons in the process.

This year they will have stout posts and wire. DD's pea frame works well although takes a lot of twine of course

[Salmo]

I suspect that they start cropping half way up the plants. Can I treat them the same as sweet peas and untie them from their supports to replace them at an angle?

How do you control pea moth as covering them with mesh may be difficult?

[mumofstig]

Good luck if you try - the stems are easy to snap if you try to untangle them.
Planted early in the season they don't usually get much moth damage. I've never tried to cover them.

I just accept that I need to pay attention when shelling them 

[Salmo]

I hope to be able to put these in our local show so maggot free is important.

[MustbeMad]

I grew these at home last year so I would agree with the need for strong supports - 8ft high one moment and 3ft the next!

I am going to put some more into the new plot, given the amount of space I have I expect these will become my main crop with just some short early ones for the start of the season - some may even make it to the kitchen😀

[AnneB]

I grow my tall peas on a very tall A frame with chicken wire nailed to it.  As the peas grow I encourage them to hang on by tying string across every foot or so as they grow.  I find I get a greater crop from a smaller parcel of land using this method.  It is easy enough to tie fleece / netting on if you want to protect from pea moth, but I don't usually bother.

If I can figure out how to resize my photos I will post a picture of the arrangement.

[Salmo]

If you are on windows : right click on photo - edit - resize - pixels - about 600 - save as

[AnneB]

If you are on windows : right click on photo - edit - resize - pixels - about 600 - save as

On an ipad. 

[AnneB]

Finally worked out what to do, needed to send it to myself as an email, which allows me the option of resizing the image, then I can save it all over again!  Technology eh?

Anyway I hope you can see  the arrangement and how it works.

[sunshineband]

Finally worked out what to do, needed to send it to myself as an email, which allows me the option of resizing the image, then I can save it all over again!  Technology eh?

Anyway I hope you can see  the arrangement and how it works.

Now that looks like what I am trying to build this year... thanks Anne

[Pimento]

AnneB, what does your A-frame look like at the top, please? Is it hinged?

Thanks!

Pim.

[arh]

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but thank you very much Salmo, for that info. Now I can put photos' on my diary. Thank you again. arh

[AnneB]

AnneB, what does your A-frame look like at the top, please? Is it hinged?

Thanks!

Pim.

Here are some more pictures I took this afternoon.  Hope they help.  There isn't a hinge, the strong plastic covered wire holds it together.  This is the 4th year in use, it seems to have lasted very well.  I haven't tried to move it mind you.  I worried about not rotating but have had no issues with crops so far.

[Pimento]

Ah, that's very helpful, many thanks, Anne! Just out of interest, what variety do you grow? I have some Champion of England in modules, but it's the first time I've grown tall peas.