Growing Tall Peas

[Sue]

Hi
I want to grow lots of tall peas this year, Alderman and one French variety from Real Seeds. What's the best climbing aid for them, they are supposed to get to 6ft plus.
I have put one lot out under a fleeced wigwam of strings with a central pole and they don't appear to be clutching on as yet, then I read by chance that they won't cling on to plastic...
Any ideas?
best wishes
Sue

[TonyF]

They will cling on to plastic coated stuff like netting or fencing but if it's smooth plastic, there's nothing for them to cling on to, too slippy. One problem with a wigway attached to a central pole is that when it rains on them, it's a perfect breeding ground for fungal diseases, you're better looking for something with a 6" or thereabouts gap at the top to let the air circulate better, like those plastic pea/bean circles that you can clip the bamboo canes into.

How tall are they and have they thrown any tendrils yet?

[shirlthegirl43]

I grew Alderman last year and they do reach 6 foot! I grew mine up twiggy branches that I had pruned the year before from my privet hedge. My other peas are grown on 2" plastic mesh.

[gojiberry]

I'm growing feltham first which are only normal height, they are growing up plastic netting from Wilco, (normally used for ponds). The netting is stapled onto a very simple wooden frame and the peas are about 10/12 inches high at the moment and there is no problem with the peas gripping the netting. Don't see why the frame could not be 6ft high.

Ian

[Flummery]

I've got 7 lots of tall peas (6 varieties) and they are all growing up wigwams. Some are canes and string, one has the 6" round green top thing as mentioned by TonyF and 3 are growing up commercial 'obelisk' type things that I got for last year's birthday!
You can see a pic of 2 of the latter on my veg blog.

[SarzWix]

I built a 6ft Aframe for mine last year, with plastic netting between the canes. I must say, they were Very Unruly, and had to be 'persuaded' to grow up the netting instead of chucking themselves around all over the place

[FelixLeiter]

Stock fencing is really good. That's what I grow my sweet peas up, anyway, and the principal's the same. Otherwise, pea and bean netting from your garden centre. It's not expensive and will last for several seasons with care.

[Alison]

I have 8' canes at each side of the bed with some spare chicken wire between them. The canes are secured at the top to another pair to form an A frame which is pretty sturdy. Seems to work OK although you need to persuade a bit to start with.

[Sue]

Hi, My first ones are about 15" high at the moment and still waving around which worried me, I think I'll have a rethink and try two of the methods you suggest. My allotment neighbour has done some drastic pruning on their apple trees so lots of big branches to spare and I've been given two big fencing posts so will try the netting stapled between two of them method as well.
Many thanks
Sue

[zazen999]

I'm using two of these....I'll be taking more photos later today of the tall peas growing up them. Every 2 plants have twine running up and over that they can cling on to.