pea sticks

[Flummery]

Oh Snadger, you villain!

[moggssue]

Hazel - want one, want one!! In fact, no, want several!! Have to talk nice to OH and rescue his tools from the back of the shed (well, MY tools are at the front of course). Did you staple the netting on?

[andrewo]

I used to use bamboo sticks placed at 2 foot intervals with chicken wire in between. The bamboo stabilises the 'wall' of chicken wire and it can be reused each year. It also doesn't have the problems with plastic netting has - it lasts longer and can be recycled, most netting can't. Birds don't get caught in it, as it is solid, and the same with frogs, toads and newts. I stopped using netting because I found a frog caught in it, fortunately it was still alive but I had to cut it out slowly as it was throttled.

[moggssue]

Okay, now I am definitely put off the netting idea! Good, its narrowing things down nicely! Think I'll give the chicken wire a go, seems logical enough and should last at least a couple of years.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Did you staple the netting on?

Used those U shaped wotsits with a point on each end (suspect that there's a name for them...) and whacked em in with a nammer!

[shirlthegirl43]

Used those U shaped wotsits with a point on each end (suspect that there's a name for them...) and whacked em in with a nammer!

Yes they do have a name Hazel - staples would you believe

[moggssue]

I know the things you mean! Hope you dont mind me pinching your design? I lost my later caulis to patercillars last year so am going to protect them this year!

[Flummery]

Netting staples!

[moggssue]

Too logical!!!

[Winged one]

I used ordinary sticks from around the plot this year, but also had issues with them being too short. Next season, I am going to use the wire netting (fairly sturdy stuff) that we had on the bannistairs to prevent the toddler going through what was only 2 parallel planks, but have been replaced by proper uprights recently.

I have a length of that strong plastic netting which the previous owner left behind in our house and was supporting a vine on a wall that no longer exists (the vine does but that is going against a fence now) so I might use that and more bamboo poles for another row (as I said to Hazel the other night - I plan on lots and lots of peas this year given the toddlers love of them and her fast pace and accuracy in shelling the pods!).

[Cutecumber]

The netting I use is that very thick Netlon - it can't be bent or folded, it only rolls. It is extremely strong and impossible to twists, so only needs a cane on each end of a long piece to support it. It's not difficult to cut pea tendrils off this once they are dried.

I don't mean you should use flexible netting that they sell for protecting plants from birds etc. I agree that that would be tricky.