Build your own pea climbing aid

The pea plants can vary in height depending on the variety. For optimal stability, a climbing aid is usually necessary when growing peas.

There are many ways around Peas (Pisum sativum) to offer support in the bed. The tendrils of the plants twine around the climbing aid, but also around each other - and thus stabilize each other. You can find out below which materials are suitable for a climbing aid and how you can easily build them yourself.

Do all peas need a climbing aid?

Climbing up a trellis not only improves the stability of the pea plants - it also promotes aeration of the stand and the leaves can dry more quickly. This prevents rot and fungal attack on the pods. Basically, peas can reach heights of between about 30 and 200 cm. The different pea varieties and subspecies like that wrinkled pea (Pisum sativum subsp. sativa convar. medullary), shell pea (Pisum sativum subsp. sativa convar. sativa) and sweet pea (Pisum sativum subsp. sativa convar. axiphium) are divided into different groups in terms of growth height. Low-growing varieties grow to about 30 to 60 cm in height. With these pea plants, a climbing aid may not be necessary under certain circumstances - but then cultivation should be considered in Double rows are chosen because this allows the plants to support each other by hanging out with each other root. Medium-tall strains, growing just over 1m tall, are elevated using simple methods. Tall varieties that reach heights of growth of up to 2 m need long sticks or fences as climbing aids.

If you want to grow peas in a raised bed, you can do without a trellis if the Sowing the peas takes place at the edge of the raised bed, where the plants can eventually hang over the edge.

Which climbing aid is most suitable?

For low-growing to medium-tall varieties, there are a variety of ways to attach a pea trellis. The plants can be held together, for example, with strings that are stretched back and forth horizontally between two sticks. Wire mesh, which is attached to the ground with sticks, also offers a good trellis for the peas. Even rebar could be repurposed as a climbing aid for peas. There are also various climbing aids made of bamboo sticks or climbing nets, which are also very suitable. However, it could lead to difficulties with the climbing nets if the plants have to be untangled at the end of cultivation.

Tip: Certain plants are also used as climbing aids, which are referred to as supporting fruits. These are grown in intercropping with peas so they can cling to it. This is suitable for example Corn (Zea mays) or grain, which is often used as a mixture with peas in agriculture.

Build your own pea climbing aid

In most cases, climbing aids can be built with materials that are already available at home and that do not have to be bought new. Twigs or sticks can be found either in the garden or on a walk. A simple climbing aid can be built using leftover pieces of wire mesh. Already alone with the sticks, for example from one hazelnut bush (Corylus avellana), a good climbing aid can be made by yourself. To do this, the branches are simply stuck into the ground at an angle and in such a way that they cross each other. Long bamboo sticks can also be used to make your own climbing aids for tall pea varieties: These are stuck into the ground so that two sticks cross slightly at the top. After this has been done with several rods, a bamboo stick can be placed horizontally on top and fastened at the ends with a string. This gives the construction some stability. Another option is to bury sticks in a pot at the end of the bed or all around and wrap it with string so that the peas can lean on it and become entwined can.

At the Harvesting the peas Such a trellis is good for you, as you can pick the legumes comfortably in an upright position, depending on the height of the plants.