Why Peas Grow Great On A Lattice
Before we get started with the basics of growing peas on a lattice, I should first explain why peas love lattices so much. Because peas use wiry tendrils to climb, they need a lot of horizontal supports to reach out for. When peas shoot out those little green tendrils, their sole mission is to find something to curl around. The easiest thing for peas to curl around is a thin object placed horizontally. Once a pea plant has formed a tight curl around an object, it’s ready to continue growing on its way. With plenty of places to curl its tendrils on a lattice wall, your pea plant will spend less time searching and more time growing.
Buying Lattices
Lattices for growing peas can be purchased at any regular hardware or garden supply store. You will be able to choose from either large panel lattices or vinyl lattice rolls. Both of these lattice options can be easily modified to fit the space in your garden. The type of lattice you choose will depend on where you plan to use it and your personal taste. If you choose to nail your lattice onto a wooden fence to grow your peas, you might prefer a lattice that matches your fence. If you’re like me, you’re just looking for a simple and cheap lattice with a lot of places for growing peas to curl around.
Making Your Own Lattice
If you have the time and patience, making your own lattice is another great option. You can create an ideal lattice for growing peas with just a few simple materials. The benefit of making your own lattice is that you can make as many horizontal and vertical rows as you wish.
- Cut four pieces of wood to create a rectangle with the height and width of your choice.
- Nail your pieces together to form the rectangle.
- Measure and cut pieces of heavy-duty string to double the width of your rectangle.
- Tie the strings on each side of your rectangle to create as many horizontal rows as you like.
- Measure and cut string to make vertical rows.
- Tie the vertical rows at the top of your rectangle and weave the string in and out of the horizontal rows until you reach the bottom.
- Tie the vertical-row strings at the bottom.
- Make sure all of your strings are tight and reinforce them with some superglue or a staple gun.
Where To Place Your Lattice
Not only are lattices great for growing peas, they create privacy and add visual interest to your garden. Whether you choose to nail your lattice along a fence or plant a freestanding lattice wall in your garden bed, you can construct the perfect sized lattice to grow a nice crop of peas. For gardeners with limited space, creating a small lattice planter is a great option.
Positioning Your Lattice Wall
As you make decisions about size and placement, constructing your lattice wall will allow you a lot of creativity. Wherever you decide to place it, you’ll want to make sure the lattice wall is sturdy and able to withstand possible bad weather conditions.
Along A Fence Or Porch
If you decide to place your lattice along a fence or porch, simply cut the lattice to the size you wish, position it and secure with evenly placed nails. For a vinyl lattice piece, use a staple gun to secure it to the fence. When positioning a large lattice piece, enlisting someone’s help to hold the lattice as you nail could save you a lot of aggravation.
Freestanding Lattice Wall
Creating a freestanding lattice wall in a garden bed will add a lot of aesthetic appeal to your garden. After cutting your lattice piece to the right dimensions, nail some thick wood trim to the bottom. Dig a hole about one foot deep and bury the bottom of your lattice wall in the hole. If you are having trouble getting the lattice to stand on its own, try digging a deeper hole and adding some heavy rocks before you pack in the dirt.
Lattice Planter
Growing peas in a lattice planter is a great option for gardeners without a lot of land to work with. Simply cut a piece of lattice thin enough to fit in your planter and tall enough to allow your peas plenty of space to grow. Place the lattice in the empty planter and fill it in with dirt. Even a heavy lattice will work well in a planter as you can easily lean it against an outdoor wall.
Planting Your Peas
Now you have your unique lattice wall in place and it’s time to plant your peas. For best results, plant your peas on the sunniest side of your lattice wall. Dig one-inch deep holes right next to your lattice wall and space them two inches apart. Plant your peas directly into the soil. Water your pea plants daily but make sure that you never water them too much. Peas don’t take kindly to being waterlogged. Check your pea crop every day for signs of green. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your peas will grow.
Training Your Peas To Grow Up The Wall
When your peas first pop out of the soil they will have a distance to travel before finding something to curl around. Keep a close eye on your growing peas so that you will notice the moment they start reaching out for an anchor. As soon as you spot those green tendrils, simply move them to where they need to go. As your peas begin to grow up the lattice wall, help them from shooting off in the wrong direction by continuing to encourage them to weave through the lattice. Once your peas have grown about a foot up the lattice wall, they will no longer need to be trained.