Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: wilko on March 17, 2007, 11:22:51

Title: Pea sticks !
Post by: wilko on March 17, 2007, 11:22:51

Hi ,
I know this is going to sound stupid  :-\ ( but I am in Basics ) but when planting peas, all my books refere to pea sticks, are these just twigs or canes?, as I have never seen peas other than in the shops, :-\ I don't know what to expect , anyone got any pics to show me? This is my first year of growing veg.  :) :)

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: coznbob on March 17, 2007, 13:27:24

Don't worry,

 Someone more in the know will probably advise you better than I, but I am going to use my old raspberry canes that I chopped down last month.

Waste not, want not!

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: dtw on March 17, 2007, 13:52:50

Pea sticks are made from splitting bamboos, they are normally stained dark green.
They are available in various sizes, but 2ft and 3ft are the most useful.

Peas like the thinner ones, as their tendrils can't cling onto the thicker ones very well.

You can also use netting to support them.

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: sazhig on March 17, 2007, 14:15:10

Im going to use any longish twigs I can find...luckily the rented house we are in was empty for much of last year so the garden is a little overgrown & lots of the shrubs need pruning ;D...

Ive just searched under google images for "pea sticks" & the first 2 that came up were quite nice illustrations:
http://www.lornaart.com/pages/general/peasticks.htm (http://www.lornaart.com/pages/general/peasticks.htm)
http://www.allotmentforestry.com/fact/bbps.htm (http://www.allotmentforestry.com/fact/bbps.htm)

HTH

Saz

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: manicscousers on March 17, 2007, 15:04:34

they've just trimmed the shrubs on the bowling green next to our plot so we're going to use them, they're just sticks, any description, that the peas can cling to while growing..when we run out of them, we'll use chicken wire  ;D

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: Tee Gee on March 17, 2007, 15:41:36

Quote

are these just twigs or canes?

Basically any form of support will do I use wire netting supported by posts at either end of the row.

You can also use lines of string tied to posts and stretched along the row.

Or you can use 'pea sticks' i.e. fallen shrub/tree branches and stick these in along the row and the peas will climb up these.

I don't have a picture of this arrangement however if you can imagine the pruned rose  in the picture below as a branch then this is what you want. i.e. a number of these stuck in along the row/s for the peas to climb up.

I hope that helps.

(http://tinyurl.com/2wm9bc)

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: wilko on March 17, 2007, 16:14:32

Thanks to all  :D
now i get it  ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: Eristic on March 17, 2007, 20:39:13

Peasticks are simply anything handy that will support the peas. No need to buy anything just improvise. I hate that word 'buy'. Some sticks last longer than others and some peas require a lot more support than others.

(http://bluewisteria.co.uk/flowers/images/young_peas.png)

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 17, 2007, 22:33:13

My peas are supposed to be five feet tall; shop-bought sticks wouldn't be much use!

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: Tee Gee on March 18, 2007, 10:27:08

Thats why I use wire netting Robert!

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: saddad on March 18, 2007, 10:40:22

and I only grow tall peas so we use bamboo poles and netting..
 ::)

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: cambourne7 on March 19, 2007, 20:07:05

i was going to put some of that orange plastic with holes you see on building sites

Title: Re: Pea sticks !
Post by: manicscousers on March 19, 2007, 20:11:34

Quote from: cambourne7 on March 19, 2007, 20:07:05

i was going to put some of that orange plastic with holes you see on building sites

we tried that, cambourne it was a bit wobbly..maybe if you put in more support  :)