Fennel and Peas

Are you talking about the herb fennel? If so, I have lots round my vegetable patch. The dead stems tend to rot off at the base eventually. If you're using them as a pea support, you might find them less than satisfactory, especially if your plot is windy.

Don't forget, peas don't climb.

What ever to grow them up will have to be strong enough and dense enough to hold them in position, or you will have to tie them in or use additional netting.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard that about fennel (or it hadn't made any impression!)  I have half a dozen really big clumps of it in the front garden, and there is no appreciable difference at this time of year in the vigour of things growing around and right up to them.  It's a bit of a free-for-all out there with campanulas, wild strawberry, violas and that sprawling stuff with silvery narrow leaves and starry white flowers.  In the summer the fennel certainly holds its own, but I wouldn't say it was killing anything.

There are some stalks which are about as branched as traditional pea sticks.  I might have to cut selected ones in the autumn though so they stay more solid for longer.

Thanks for the input!