How to Build a Bamboo Pea Tri-pod: A Photo Tutorial

Many snap pea and snow pea varieties can easily grow to reach 7' tall so building a structure to support your pea vines is crucial. One of the most inexpensive, and easiest ways to create a tall semi-permanent trellising structure for your peas is with 8' bamboo poles (about $5 each at your local hardware store) and garden twine. The following photos show the process: 

1) Place bamboo poles in a triangular shape in your garden bed. Space poles about 2 feet apart and sink poles firmly in the ground. Gather the poles together about 1 foot from the top. Cut a 12 foot piece of twine. Tie one end of the twine around one pole.
2) Wrap the twine around all three poles 8 times, pulling the twine tight with each lap of the poles. 

3 and 4) Wrap the twine around itself, crossing at least twice between each pole.

5) Tie the end of your ball of twine to one pole.
6) Wrap the twine around each pole until you make it back to the first knot. 

7) Continue steps 5 and 6 every 10 inches until you reach the top.
8) Once all the horizontal twine rungs have been tied, fertilize around the base of the tri-pod.

9) Mix in fertilizer and transplant peas along the base of the trellis. Pea transplants should be spaced about 1 inch apart. Peas can also be seeded along the base if transplants are not available. 
10) Water and your done!