Peas and wigwams

[Stroppy scotte]

Hi to all
Have heard of people growing peas up wigwams to save space on the lottie. How do we plant ie spacing etc.
We are trying to get ahead with structures so that we can plant as soon as the weather permits.
Would be grateful for any advice
Thanks.

[sewer rat]

I haven't heard of peas growing up wigwams before but last year I grew the variety "Alderman", which reached 6ft easy and cropped for a long time - similar to beans, whereby you keep picking the pods and the plants produce more. No reason why this variety couldn't be grown up a wigwam, or any of the other shorter varieties but not sure I would consider it to be a space saving idea if the shorter varieties were grown.
I also grew Onward which I sowed in two lengths of guttering, each length sown at a staggered 3" spacing then planted one length on each side of a central support - in effect four rows of peas up one central wire support - lots of peas in relatively little space.
Hope this helps

[Stroppy scotte]

Thanks Rat
Have already got guttering to start the beans so that sounds a great idea to me. Will look on the lottie today and see which would give me more of an advantage! Meeting OH there mid afternoon so that the rest of the weekend can be used sorting out the garden at home.
SS

[Geordie]

I use this for my runner beans but no reason why it shouldnt work for peas -

If growing up a wigwam.....turn it upside down...ie the top of the canes are wider than the base. This causes the plants to grow outwards and so the produce tends to hang outside the frame rather than inwards if using the normal shape wigwam.

Just remember to use string to brace tops of canes againt the opposite one so it doesnt collapse.

[Stroppy scotte]

Thanks Geordie
Must be early. Can't get my head around bracing opposite canes with string. Could I use wire to maintain the shape with wigwam inverted?
SS

[*Feather*]

If growing up a wigwam.....turn it upside down...ie the top of the canes are wider than the base. This causes the plants to grow outwards and so the produce tends to hang outside the frame rather than inwards if using the normal shape wigwam.

Just remember to use string to brace tops of canes againt the opposite one so it doesnt collapse.

Geordie,

This sounds like a great idea. How do you support the base? Won't it be too narrow and fall over? thanks!

[Geordie]

This would be easier to draw than explain me thinks but imagine if your inverted wigwam had four canes, each pointing out in the direction of 1/4 hour on a clock face. Ie one at 12, one at 3, one at 6 and one at 9.

You tie some string or wire around the cane pointing to 12 o clock, then stretch and tie the string around the one at 6 o clock. The idea being that as the crop grows and wants to pull the cane down toward the ground, the string tied to its opposite number provides an opposite force to keep the cane upright. OK

The bottom or narrower end of the wigwam , (about a foot from the soil), is tied in the normal way that you would use if it were at the top of a traditional wigwam.

Hope that helps

[Stroppy scotte]

By George I've got it--I think.
many thanks
SS

[*Feather*]

I think I got it too! Thanks Geordie!