Climbing plants like peas and beans are a great way to make the most of garden space and produce. But giving vining plants the right supports is important for their health and yield. Peas and beans grow up structures by attaching themselves to them with tendrils or stems that twine. If you don’t support the plants, they will fall over and spread out on the ground, where they are more likely to get rot and disease.
Luckily, building DIY supports for peas and beans is straightforward using common materials. With a bit of forethought and effort, you can create structures that keep your plants tidy, improve growing conditions, and make harvesting easier.
Why Peas and Beans Need Support
Before we get into specific structures, let’s take a look at why climbing beans and peas need to be trellised.
- Prevents plants from flopping over and becoming damaged.
- Allows more airflow which reduces fungal issues like powdery mildew.
- Makes picking easier by keeping pods within reach.
- Keeps pods up off damp soil reducing rot.
- Enables growing more densely by using vertical space.
- Deter slugs and other ground pests from reaching vines.
- Looks neat and creates an attractive vertical display.
Giving peas and beans help makes them healthier and more productive. It’s not just for appearances!.
Factors to Consider for DIY Supports
When deciding how to trellis your peas and beans, keep these considerations in mind:
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The type of plant’s full height; some only get to 2 feet tall, while others can get to 6 feet or more. Match support height accordingly.
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Your garden space – narrow or wide supports? Plan size and shape based on available area.
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Exposure – sturdy supports are essential for exposed windy areas.
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Time and skill – choose user-friendly materials if your abilities are limited.
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Durability – build with weather-resistant materials if the structure is permanent.
Take stock of your site’s conditions, the mature size of your plants, and the materials you have on hand before deciding on the optimal support method and design.
7 Simple DIY Supports for Peas and Beans
Here are some excellent options for DIY pea and bean trellises:
1. Bamboo or Willow Tepees
Bamboo and willow tepees are perfect for climbing peas and beans, while taller, sturdier tepees made of thicker poles are recommended for heavier climbers such as squashes and melons.
To make, arrange 5-6 poles in a circle and tie tops together. Spread poles into a teepee shape. Easy for tendrils to grab!
2. Bean Poles and String Frame
Place 4-6 poles in a square/rectangle around plants. Lash tops together and attach horizontal string around outside for vines to climb.
3. Twiggy Branch Supports
Insert pruned sapling branches or twiggy shrubs into soil near pea/bean rows. Plant at base of branches and let tendrils twist up.
4. Cage or Panel Trellises
Use cages or panels made from concrete reinforcing wire, cattle panels, etc. These keep climbing vines tidy and are easy to set up.
5. Netting Between Posts
Run trellis netting between posts along pea/bean rows. Vines readily cling to the grid pattern. Keep netting taut.
6. Garden Arches or Tunnels
Bend cattle panels into arches or tunnels between beds for peas to climb. Very decorative!
7. Upcycled Materials
Repurpose old materials – tomato cages, ladders, swing set frames, etc. Get creative with supports!
The possibilities are endless when making DIY supports. Choose an approach that suits your site, abilities, and budget.
Constructing Pea and Bean Supports
Once you’ve decided on a design, follow these tips for installing:
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Mark out the area and dig holes as needed for posts or poles.
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Set uprights and ensure corners are square.
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Use zip ties, wire, or twine to fasten frame pieces together.
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Add horizontal supports vines can grab – netting, strings, crossbars, etc.
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Firmly hammer or press posts into the ground. Avoid wobbling.
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Water around posts to help anchor.
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Amend soil with compost before sowing/planting at base.
Caring for Supported Peas and Beans
Here are some recommendations for looking after vining peas and beans growing on DIY trellises:
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Sow seeds or set transplants near supports. Follow spacing guidelines.
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Irrigate soils instead of from overhead to reduce disease.
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Weed regularly to prevent competition for water and nutrients.
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Use floating row covers to protect young plants from insects.
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Mulch around plants to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
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Check trellises are stable and reinforce as needed.
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Harvest frequently to encourage more pod set.
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Provide fertilizer if plants appear deficient.
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Monitor for pests/disease and address issues promptly.
With the right support in place, your peas and beans will climb happily. Expect abundant harvests of delicious homegrown pods! Let those tendrils grab and start growing vertical.
Using Bamboo Canes for Bean Supports
Canes are perfectly straight and can be cut in relatively long lengths. They are resistant to weathering and can last for years. The thick, long canes that are best for climbing beans can be costly if you need a number of them. Bamboo canes also have the huge advantage that when the bean crop is finished, the old vines will slide easily off each individual cane. When you’ve spent an hour or more painstakingly picking bits of dried vines out of netting or twiggy arches, you’ll thank me for that advice.
Use Sticks to Make a Bean Teepee
A hazel pole teepee is my favourite type of support, and I think it’s the easiest by far. The top of a teepee is tied off with thick hessian rope. They look good, are easy to set up, and are very strong. What’s more, they are easy to move around. If it gets cold in the fall, you can cut the plants off at the base and move the whole thing, sticks and all, under cover to dry.
The hazel poles usually last two or three years before they become too brittle. Nowadays many people use bamboo but spare a thought for where the bamboo has been sourced. It is likely to have been shipped in from halfway around the world. I am fortunate that a neighbour has a large stand of bamboo that she’s happy for me to cut back for her every year.
5 Best Bean Poles, Frames and Supports for Your Garden
FAQ
What is the best support for peas?
Peas need to climb, and do best with a sturdy trellis they can cling to. There are several choices for making a trellis, including old wire fence, cut brush, or polypropylene netting, but I’ve found what I think is a superior material: remesh from the masonry building aisle at the home improvement store.
How to stake peas and beans?
To stake peas, all you have to do is find a group of twiggy branches (end growth that is messy and has lots of small twigs and branches) and put them in the ground with the solid end down.
How do you make supports for peas & beans?
Luckily, making supports for peas and beans can be straightforward and quick to do. The conventional way of growing peas is in rows, with the peas scrambling up a net fixed between two poles or suspended from a cross piece. Peas are planted at the base and allowed to grow up winding through the net, like in the title picture.
How do you support peas in a garden?
Arches and tunnels are a practical way to support peas, but it’s also extremely decorative. Another option is to support bush peas on branches or twigs inserted into the earth. This technique is ideal for row gardens as well as raised beds. What are 5 ideas for Bean supports?.
Do you need a trellis for peas & beans?
Not only do they keep the plants tidy and upright, but trellising improves airflow and light penetration. This in turn enhances the health and productivity of your crops. When it comes to supporting peas and beans, you have lots of DIY trellis options.
How do beans & peas climb?
Beans and peas are fundamentally different in how they climb. Peas send out little side tendrils that cling to trellises like tiny hands, and hold on that way – the central plant grows straight (ish) upwards, relying on it’s curly hands for support.
What are 5 ideas for Bean supports?
In the below video, look at five ideas for bean supports: the teepee, an A-frame, a V-frame, wall trellising for a small space, and a beautiful walkthrough archway. Find out more about how to grow this popular garden vegetable in the Almanac’s Guide to Growing Green Beans, which goes over everything from planting to harvesting.
Why do you need a pea trellis?
Pea trellis help in supporting pea plants as they grow and keep them at a perfect height. In this article learn to make diy pea trellis.