Many snap pea and snow pea varieties can easily grow to reach 7' tall so building a structure to support your pea vines is crucial. One of the most inexpensive, and easiest ways to create a tall semi-permanent trellising structure for your peas is with 8' bamboo poles (about $12 each at your local hardware store) and garden twine Both our hemp garden twine and jute garden twine is strong enough to support a pea trellis, but we recommend the hemp because it’s less likely to fray when rubbed between the bamboo posts. The following photos show the process:
1) Place bamboo poles in a triangular shape in your garden bed. Space poles about 2 feet apart and sink poles firmly in the ground. Gather the poles together about 1 foot from the top. Cut a 12 foot piece of twine. Tie one end of the twine around one pole.
2) Wrap the twine around all three poles 8 times, pulling the twine tight with each lap of the poles.
3 and 4) Wrap the twine around itself, crossing at least twice between each pole.
5) Tie the end of your ball of twine to one pole.
6) Wrap the twine around each pole until you make it back to the first knot.
7) Continue steps 5 and 6 every 10 inches until you reach the top.
8) Once all the horizontal twine rungs have been tied, fertilize around the base of the tri-pod.
9) Mix in fertilizer and transplant peas along the base of the trellis. Pea transplants should be spaced about 1 inch apart. Peas can also be seeded along the base if transplants are not available.
10) Water and your done!
Not in the mood to make your own trellis this year, or want one that will last forever? Check out the Freyr trellis. Our innovative trellising system is designed to support any crop, and can be used year after year to support whatever you have growing:
Bonus: This same design can be used to support pole beans!
Follow steps 1-3.
Seed 5-7 inoculated pole beans around each post.
Thin to 3 plants around each pole once the seeds have germinated.
We often quote our book “Food Grown Right, In Your Backyard” and say that fresh snap peas are a reason unto themselves for having your own garden. I’ve never eaten a pea that has tasted as good as the ones I grow in my home garden and I want to you have the same experience. I’ve created this post to help answer your pea-growing questions and set you up for success!