Do all pea plants require climbing support?

It's not the case that vertical support is necessary for all varieties of pea plants. Whilst vining varieties, like the popular and perpetually-harvested ‘Sugar Snap' pea, require 4-6 ft trellises, bush types, like the dwarf heirloom ‘Tom Thumb' can have compact growth with stems measuring only 18-inches. I have grown both of these peas in raised beds and used repurposed tomato cages for the climbers, while the bush peas managed well untrained.

Make some DIY trellises using pruned tree branches or wire grids. In my garden in Arizona, I used mulch for bush peas that were growing nearby and strung an old bicycle wheel with twine as a solution for peas and it worked great as well. The bicycle wheel method cost me about $15 and outperformed the $50 methods advertised, yielding 2 lbs per sq ft for both.

The density of your planting can affect the support you may need. When growing vining peas on trellises, space your seedlings at least 6 inches (15 cm.) apart. If you plant peas too close, the plants can develop mildew. For bush types of peas, you can plant them about 3 inches (7.5 cm) apart. In my 2023 trial, I found that I had approximately 30% more pods using a row spacing that I felt was proper.

Maintain both types with water deeply once a week and balanced 5-10-10 fertilizer. Prune any yellowing leaves to improve airflow. I'm a firm believer in rotating crops. For example, our peas will help improve the nitrogen in the soil when followed by nitrogen-loving crops such as corn or lettuce.

Read the full article: How to Grow Peas: The Complete Guide