How to Stake Peas in the Garden Bed: The Simplest and Cheapest Methods

Why stake peas

There are low-growing varieties that don’t need staking – in that case the seed packets say «resistant to lodging». They are usually planted two peas side by side, so that the plants support each other. But, in most cases, peas still need the opportunity to reach upward and cling to something. And if you don’t give it the support it needs, this can lead to unpleasant consequences:

• The beds will look unkempt, and the peas will take up a lot of space on them;
• Stems lying on the ground will start to rot in damp weather, and slugs will gather in them due to the moisture;
• The plants won’t get enough light and ventilation, which will delay the ripening of the harvest;
• In search of natural support, the peas will try to cling to neighboring crops, which will slow down their development;
• It will become difficult to care for the plant: to water, loosen the soil, and weed;
• Harvesting will be inconvenient, and even a single overripe pod, missed under the leaves, threatens to dry out the entire bush prematurely.

The main rules of staking

1. It’s recommended to carry out staking as soon as the sprouts reach a height of 20 cm and put out their first tendrils. After that, the peas will cling and climb upward on their own.
2. It’s better to set up the supports in advance, before sowing the seeds. This way you won’t damage the plants or interfere with their root system.
3. It’s advisable to use non-metal supports, since metal heats up strongly in the sun during hot weather and can harm the bushes.
4. Stems need to be tied very carefully, using twine, fabric strips, or thick threads. You shouldn’t use materials that are too rigid: wire, fishing line, thin cord.
5. Using tall crops (sunflowers, corn) as support is undesirable: this reduces resistance to pests and deprives both plants of the chance to get enough light and nutrients.

Methods of staking peas

Staking a legume plant is not difficult. You can buy ready-made trellises in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Or you can save money and make do with materials at hand.

Stakes

This is the simplest support structure. Along the edges of the bed, at a distance of half a meter from each other, you drive into the ground branches, handles of old shovels, old trees, and any pieces of wood up which the plant will climb. And if you stretch several rows of twine between the stakes, you get a homemade trellis. The first level should be at a height of about 20 cm, and the spacing between rows – 20–25 cm. The peas will grow and gradually wind around each new rung.

Netting

It’s better to use plastic netting with large mesh (usually this is two-meter netting in rolls, which can be found in garden and building supply stores). The necessary number of stakes are driven into the ground at a distance of one and a half to two meters. The netting is stretched out and attached to the posts with clamps or wire, and the peas are planted on both sides in a checkerboard pattern. Such a structure is reliable and durable. Thanks to its flexibility, it can be set up not only vertically but also in the form of an arched tunnel (with metal-plastic pipes as the frame). In winter, it’s easy to roll up and move to storage.

Lean-to

A support for peas can be not only practical but also striking. For this, long stakes are placed on the outer sides of the bed (at a distance of 1 m from each other). At the top they are fastened with rope or wire to form the letters «Л». Using a long horizontal crossbar, the stakes are joined in pairs, and if desired, slats are nailed along the sides and netting is stretched over them.

Wigwam

As with the lean-to, the poles are arranged in a circle about 0.8 m in diameter. The upper ends are tied together, and an additional pole is driven into the center, so the structure will be more stable. Peas are sown at the base of the cone, and as they grow, they wind beautifully toward the top of the structure. And if you leave an opening on the side, you get a ready-made hideout that children will surely appreciate.

Bicycle wheels

Another very original way to stake peas. Two old wheels are connected at the center by an iron rod or an ordinary wooden stake. One end of the rod is fixed in the ground, and twine is stretched between the rims, with a spacing of 8–10 cm. The seeds are planted on the outer side of the lower rim.

Fence

The most economical method, in terms of both money and the time to make it, is to plant peas along a ready-made fence. A wooden fence works great, and chain-link netting is convenient for the plant’s tendrils. Metal, as we remember, is undesirable: in the heat it can burn the plant, and the bush will dry out.