Trellis netting and sugar snap peas

I purchased a trellis netting to complement my teepee for my sugar snap peas. The net is 5x15 feet, so I'm able to wrap it around the teepee about three times.

My guess is multiple wraps will make for a stronger net, but should I be worried about the smaller gaps between nylon causing issues at harvest? I've never done sugar snap peas.

The existing netting looks plenty strong enough for peas. I'd suggest adding some horizontal sticks between the tipi legs though. I've never seen snap peas grow that tall so maybe add a cucumber or something else that will.

Mike Barkley wrote:The existing netting looks plenty strong enough for peas. I'd suggest adding some horizontal sticks between the tipi legs though. I've never seen snap peas grow that tall so maybe add a cucumber or something else that will.

Thanks Mike. I'll look into adding a taller climber.

To be clear, what I have in the picture is all the net I have. I was just asking if it's too "thick" to where it would prevent me from accessing all my harvest. Does that make sense? Am I worrying too much?

I think it looks fine for harvesting.

With a tripod, I think it'll be a little more challenging to find all the pea pods on the inside. But as with all things, desire is the magic sauce. I grow them on a 1" mesh fence with access to both sides, and even so there a few that get away on me.

Around here, sugar snap peas will grow up to 10 ft, whereas I have never trellised cucumbers. Peas climb via tendrils, so as long as they are planted on the exterior of the trellis they will likely stay on the outside. All that to say, it looks fine.

One consideration: if you miss a lot of pea pods that are out of sight, and they start to mature, it tells the plant to focus its energy on viable seed -- we have a winner here! -- instead of new flowers and snappy pea pods. Pea plant psychology 101.

Joe Flores wrote:
To be clear, what I have in the picture is all the net I have. I was just asking if it's too "thick" to where it would prevent me from accessing all my harvest. Does that make sense? Am I worrying too much?

I've used that particular netting before and found that it is easy to maneuver to get inside to harvest.  The only thing I would caution against is being careful not to break or damage the vines while harvesting.  Maybe you could train the peas away from a few "holes" to allow room to harvest inside of the teepee without damaging the plant.  

Your netting looks fine to use.

My question would be: What is your plan at the end of the season? If you want to reuse the netting, how do you untangle it from the old peas?

I have gone over to a biodegradable jute string for everything garden related. At the end of the season I cut it down, string and all, and it goes in the compost (chicken pen) whole.

Or you can do away with string entirely and use pea sticks.

Pea Sticks

They were a traditional coppice workers crop, produced as a by-product of making hurdles from hazel.

Michael - Those pea sticks look great and so simple. I will consider for next year.

You want something that is

1. Strong enough the weight and motion of the plants won't tear it down.
2. Open enough that whoever harvests can get their hands in and out of easily.
3. Visually easy to spot the pods because they'll stop making more flowers if you miss a few.
4. At seasons-end is either easy to separate from the remaining plant or can be composted/fed/etc with it.

I'm not sure about #4 with the netting, but I expect you'll have an answer to that later this year.

Re #3, I've switched to varieties with pods that aren't green.

I hadn't seen pea sticks before, they look like an attractive option.

Perhaps forgoing the mesh on one side of the tripod would give better access to the inside?