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Post by lottielady on Jan 23, 2007 7:39:29 GMT
How do you support your peas? I know the traditional way is with Hazel sticks but I have never been able to find any. I am trying Ne Plus Ultra this year and they can grow to 5 feet. I suppose I can use cane wigams but would welcome any ideas on what to use.
LLx
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 23, 2007 9:11:11 GMT
When I can get my peas to grow  , I use twigs from my elder trees. My grandad used to use Buddleja trimmings which rooted over the summer which he replanted in the Autumn. |
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Post by roxann57 on Jan 23, 2007 22:26:10 GMT
Thanks for the tip 4P, I was wondering what I was going to use this year. I usually cut the Buddlejas back in Autumn to cut down on wind damage but didn't get around to it. I don't like using netting as it takes ages to "disentangle" when the peas are finished.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2007 22:45:43 GMT
I never thought of using buddliea cuttings! What a great idea...i usually have loads of these as have several buddlieas in the garden. I don't like the netting for same reason as Roxann.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2007 23:16:24 GMT
I use twigs they I pick from nearby woodland.  I stopped using netting after spending ages, years ago untangling a blackbird from some.  BTW - it's best to cut back Buddleja by a third in autumn to avoid wind rock, then cut it back really hard in April. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 0:14:21 GMT
I don't know your variety, but I grew Alderman which also claimed to grow 5 feet, but in practice more like 8 feet. So they grew up cheap netting on a cheap arch and I tied them in at the lowest point of the netting. So I suppose what I'm saying is with a TALL growing variety forget the pea sticks- Tie them in. This is the before shot.....I can't readily find an after shot just at the mo....  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 7:18:47 GMT
Hi all ! I'm new to this pea malarky and haven't got the foggiest of what I'm doing so all suggestions gratefully received. If all my peas get past the germination and meece stages, I'll end up with about 20 plants in the neighbour's 2' wide border (with her permission kind of  ). I've got Twinkle and Sugar Snap on the go in milk bottle modules atm. So what's the best planting pattern and support structure. Anyone got any idiot proof pics/ideas ? I've got a few long privet twigs (about 3') but suspect I'll be resorting to canes ! Everso grateful as always. MrsKP |
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Post by scarecrow on Jan 24, 2007 8:23:44 GMT
In this windy weather the wind brings down lots of silver birch twigs some over 3foot long I will be using these with buddiea cuttings
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 20:01:00 GMT
and do what with them exactly ? plant one support per plant ? i've seen a cane and string network but can't make out exactly how it works.
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 24, 2007 20:28:10 GMT
I did a mini version of my bean supports for the peas, this pic is very early on, just after I got my plot... they are only just planted. Behind it you can see the bean canes.(Thats my bro` up at the top of one of my plots) ;D  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 20:45:14 GMT
Well even I can understand that. That's the first time I've seen it done like that, but it's so obvious.
How tall are the pea canes sweetleaf ? (avoiding the "as tall as you want them to be" answer).
;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 24, 2007 20:59:06 GMT
3ft tall! The construction is like a skeleton of a ridge tent The bean canes are 8ft, I have them suported on rope which is tied to the headless crosses....... others on my site use scaff poles and always grow their beans in the same place.  I moved mine after I picked the last bean. When you plant your peas try popping a pea in each hole with the plant, if it germinates and grows your season will be longer! I did it last year and the same with the beans....limited success with the peas (bad year for peas imo) but was still picking beans right up to the end of october. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 21:41:47 GMT
thanks sweetleaf. it says on the pea pack "self supporting if sown in blocks". Not in my garden they won't be !!! I don't even know where to put some wind breaks. It comes from all over lol.
I'll extend the run to 30 definitely give your idea a whirl with the final 10 and see how we do.
;D
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Post by lottielady on Jan 24, 2007 21:59:02 GMT
Well I really like CC's arch and net combination - but seeing as I am such a shortarse I don't think I can manage that, so I will probably be going with canes either in wigwams or the Sweetie method! Thanks everyone  LLx |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 24, 2007 22:06:39 GMT
If you place the canes side on to the prevailing wind the wind goes through the A frames without too much damage, what you could do when the wind comes from all directions I have no clue....... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2007 22:52:51 GMT
thanks sweetleaf. it says on the pea pack "self supporting if sown in blocks". ;D Self supporting = Self entangling IMO With the dwarf Twinkle (I bought them because it was the name of the wife's ex-dog as opposed to any particular leguminous qualities) I literally drew a square in the ground. Planted diagonally across it 2 inches (5cm) apart from corner to corner. Then went across the rest of the square in the same fashion. They grew well but were NOT self supporting! So I fashioned a makeshift collection of short canes. Not aesthetic...more asthmatic! I possibly think though, had I pinched them out earlier, they might have been more bushier and so self supporting. Should have had more patience mee thinks! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 7:14:27 GMT
doesn't say "dwarf" anywhere on the pack, so that's another thing i've learned. thanks CC !
mini tent structure it is then !
;D
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, I use twigs from my elder trees. My grandad used to use Buddleja trimmings which rooted over the summer which he replanted in the Autumn. 
).
