Trellis for my tall peas
- bower
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Trellis for my tall peas
This is the summer of making something with... whatever you have on hand. Pulled nails, spruce rails, scrap lumber and twigs! It was a bit of a struggle but finally these pea beds are made and their tall trellises are up. I had to take a picture because I just don't know when the wind starts to blow... We are one of the windiest inhabited places on earth here. I could do with some more braces, however we shall see, if a hurricane is coming I might find or, I guess! make something to work. No shortage of spruce but those light rails are very knotty and tricky to nail. The logs in the beds do make them very heavy, so at least the whole bed won't blow down.
Yes those are peas in there but just installed the trellis so they may take a few days to find their way up through the branches.
If all goes well I'll post an after pic of them in all their tall glory!
Yes those are peas in there but just installed the trellis so they may take a few days to find their way up through the branches.
If all goes well I'll post an after pic of them in all their tall glory!
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AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- Whwoz
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Work of art[mention]Bower[/mention] that the peas shall enjoy climbing no doubt, just how will it go with the moose though I wonder.......
- JRinPA
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
I like it, very nice.
It was a terrible year for peas here. April was so dry they barely made 1 foot before they started flowering in late May. I should have had water set up earlier. There are peas, but only about 1/3 of what I think there should be. I like to see them at a good 3-4 ft tall before first flowers in mid May instead of 1 ft in late May. I hope your pea season is better up there.
What kind of peas are they?
It was a terrible year for peas here. April was so dry they barely made 1 foot before they started flowering in late May. I should have had water set up earlier. There are peas, but only about 1/3 of what I think there should be. I like to see them at a good 3-4 ft tall before first flowers in mid May instead of 1 ft in late May. I hope your pea season is better up there.
What kind of peas are they?
- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
[mention]Whwoz[/mention] I think it's crazy for me to be growing tall peas around the moose. They definitely like them, and being tall, it's right where they like to get a chew. You'd swear I was doing it for them. But I'm telling myself, all those peas they nibbled on before were dangling off the top of a trellis that was too short. The trellis that's actually tall enough, might be less appealing.
[mention]JRinPA[/mention] I'm growing peas to dry for the winter in these two beds. Biskopens aka Swedish Red, which I found to be delicious, and Bullroyd Bean, also very nice as a dry pea and very productive and large. They are on the late side here, I was harvesting in October last season. I have some other tall peas which I'm trialing and growing up seed, which are a mix of snows, drys and snaps that mostly all have potential as a dry pea as well. Corne de Belier, Brazilian, King Tut, Calvert, a Magnolia cross, Irish Prean, Clarke's Beltony Blue, and Sugar Magnolia. And I have some bush type peas again for the winter soup, a Capucijners, Margaret McKee's Baking Pea, and Gold Harvest. Still have peas I want to plant, but it's getting a bit late for it I guess. If they're early, why not, September peas?
[mention]JRinPA[/mention] I'm growing peas to dry for the winter in these two beds. Biskopens aka Swedish Red, which I found to be delicious, and Bullroyd Bean, also very nice as a dry pea and very productive and large. They are on the late side here, I was harvesting in October last season. I have some other tall peas which I'm trialing and growing up seed, which are a mix of snows, drys and snaps that mostly all have potential as a dry pea as well. Corne de Belier, Brazilian, King Tut, Calvert, a Magnolia cross, Irish Prean, Clarke's Beltony Blue, and Sugar Magnolia. And I have some bush type peas again for the winter soup, a Capucijners, Margaret McKee's Baking Pea, and Gold Harvest. Still have peas I want to plant, but it's getting a bit late for it I guess. If they're early, why not, September peas?
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- GoDawgs
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Wonderful trellis, Bower! Very rustic and artistic. That's a great example of one of my favorite garden phrases, "You make it up as you go along."
It's hard for me, sitting here in the heat of Georgia, to imagine growing peas this time of year let along until October. And I've never heard of any of those varieties either. That's why it's so interesting reading posts here from so many different locations all over the world.
It's hard for me, sitting here in the heat of Georgia, to imagine growing peas this time of year let along until October. And I've never heard of any of those varieties either. That's why it's so interesting reading posts here from so many different locations all over the world.
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Loving your makeshift build. Tucked in the timber gives you all the product you need.
Curious about sun angles. From the beds looking towards the house, is it east? And if so, does it open to the south?
Curious about sun angles. From the beds looking towards the house, is it east? And if so, does it open to the south?
- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
[mention]bjbebs[/mention] Yes, this garden is west of the house, so the trellis at the back is facing east, and is roughly in the NNW corner of the garden. Rhubarb flower in the pic looks to be about magnetic north. It gets about ten hours of sun, but starts to be shaded by 4 in the afternoon. The other trellis is on the south side facing north. We made a small cut there this spring which had to be done to let some light in for the garlic bed on that side. So this one will get more hours of sun but on the opposite angle.
We had to cut some big logs that were closing in on the south side of the house two years ago, so this is where the major sun is coming from. What a difference it makes. I wish I had a sawmill for those big logs because I would love to mill them into planks, but meanwhile will do my best to make something out of it and put to good use. The old shed is falling down but the spruce rails we used are the best part of it. Really durable lumber. Our other common tree the balsam fir is the opposite, nature's soil builder for the north which breaks down quick.
BTW, I was meaning to thank you for the tip about using horse manure in the tomato containers. I tried it and it's working great, has really improved moisture retention and the tomatoes are big and happy.
We had to cut some big logs that were closing in on the south side of the house two years ago, so this is where the major sun is coming from. What a difference it makes. I wish I had a sawmill for those big logs because I would love to mill them into planks, but meanwhile will do my best to make something out of it and put to good use. The old shed is falling down but the spruce rails we used are the best part of it. Really durable lumber. Our other common tree the balsam fir is the opposite, nature's soil builder for the north which breaks down quick.
BTW, I was meaning to thank you for the tip about using horse manure in the tomato containers. I tried it and it's working great, has really improved moisture retention and the tomatoes are big and happy.
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yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
-
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Your mini- meadow is sure pretty. I can see why moose would come in to feed. Hopefully the peas get a good start.
- Tormato
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
If I was a moose, I like my neighbor who built me both a buffet and a scratching post, all-in-one.
- JRinPA
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
I had to re-read the above. I thought it said "moosture retention". To which I agreed.
- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Ah well, as you guys immediately guessed, this story was fated to be as much about moose as it is about peas. I didn't have time to post as it happened, but I did take pics as time went by and so the tale comes out, as I finally sit down to sort them out. We don't always see the moose we know are there, and we don't always get pics of the moose, but now and then, the guilty parties do show up.
The peas started up the trellis, and seeming to like it pretty well. But then they were bitten back by some sneaky animal. Luckily though, they were not pulled out by the roots, and so they sprout again! It seemed there may be hope for them yet, but they needed some protection.
I decided that the big fir branches would be the best, since they aren't as rough as the spruce, when added on top of tender plants.
The peas started up the trellis, and seeming to like it pretty well. But then they were bitten back by some sneaky animal. Luckily though, they were not pulled out by the roots, and so they sprout again! It seemed there may be hope for them yet, but they needed some protection.
I decided that the big fir branches would be the best, since they aren't as rough as the spruce, when added on top of tender plants.
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yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
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- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
The second trellis, luckily (or mysteriously) was spared.
So of course it too got some extra protection. Whoops! We had a windy day and this one blew right over, soil block and all. Lucky for me, a friend came by the next day and we propped it right up and braced it on front and back.
The cage of branches seemed to protect the plants really well, they were hardly damaged at all.
So of course it too got some extra protection. Whoops! We had a windy day and this one blew right over, soil block and all. Lucky for me, a friend came by the next day and we propped it right up and braced it on front and back.
The cage of branches seemed to protect the plants really well, they were hardly damaged at all.
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yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
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- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
There were signs of a nibbler, lurking around the garden, sampling various things. A single oat (!) snipped out. A big bite of barley in the boot. More barley nibbles. Valerian flowers.... Blossoms missing from that one spike of aconite!!???!! I was wary but.. what can you do? If a moose wants to sample things, well I'm okay with that, mostly. Sampling and mowing, not the same issue for sure. Or is it?
By early August, the peas were growing out through the branches and loaded with flowers.
Even the moosed trellis was flowering, although not as tall. And then one morning, I looked out and saw the beast. A beautiful beast. Having a feast. I looked through the baby pictures last year, and identified this lovely young lady as Venus's daughter Delta - of twins dubbed Delta and Gamma after the hurricanes active at the time. Who knew Delta would turn out to be such a bad name in 2021! Del has the prominent white triangles on the front of her ears, which is a family trait from her mother. She is a beaut!
I had three encounters with this moose in the one day. First I took her picture and chased her off. Then I went out to fortify the peas with more branches and found her at the 'old trellis' where we had a little heart to heart chat. Peas are my food. You eat shrubs. That sort of thing. She really seemed to understand what I was saying and I left thinking we had a deal.
Ah but when I looked out she was on my third trellis, and had to chase her off that and the one at the back as well.
When I saw the aconite gone, I realized! I was talking to a moose on drugs! It was crazy enough with a sober moose.
This is what she ate before going on a rampage with the peas.
By early August, the peas were growing out through the branches and loaded with flowers.
Even the moosed trellis was flowering, although not as tall. And then one morning, I looked out and saw the beast. A beautiful beast. Having a feast. I looked through the baby pictures last year, and identified this lovely young lady as Venus's daughter Delta - of twins dubbed Delta and Gamma after the hurricanes active at the time. Who knew Delta would turn out to be such a bad name in 2021! Del has the prominent white triangles on the front of her ears, which is a family trait from her mother. She is a beaut!
I had three encounters with this moose in the one day. First I took her picture and chased her off. Then I went out to fortify the peas with more branches and found her at the 'old trellis' where we had a little heart to heart chat. Peas are my food. You eat shrubs. That sort of thing. She really seemed to understand what I was saying and I left thinking we had a deal.
Ah but when I looked out she was on my third trellis, and had to chase her off that and the one at the back as well.
When I saw the aconite gone, I realized! I was talking to a moose on drugs! It was crazy enough with a sober moose.
This is what she ate before going on a rampage with the peas.
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AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Here are a few pics of that third trellis - smaller than the other two. So inconspicuous a moose might even miss it.
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- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
After that, a couple of weeks went by without any damages to peas. I did the rounds every day and watered and added branches here and there. They grew out through them again. I added a layer of netting. Nothing here for a moose. Ha! More branches then.
But Del came again alright. I caught her chowing on trellis #3, and chased her away from the other. Then I added MORE branches.
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- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
By now we're in early September.... Time for Hurricane Larry!
I picked all the mature pods I could find from the unmoosed trellis especially, before Larry was due to hit, which had mainly finished flowering anyway. But the most moosed trellis peas were a bit late for that. So it goes.
This one is down and out. Everything flattened except that one heavy trellis, hanging on! Surprisingly though, I was able to shore these two up again. So they were standing tall a week later, when Rosebud arrived at dusk in the rain with new twins: Larry and Odette.
I picked all the mature pods I could find from the unmoosed trellis especially, before Larry was due to hit, which had mainly finished flowering anyway. But the most moosed trellis peas were a bit late for that. So it goes.
This one is down and out. Everything flattened except that one heavy trellis, hanging on! Surprisingly though, I was able to shore these two up again. So they were standing tall a week later, when Rosebud arrived at dusk in the rain with new twins: Larry and Odette.
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yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- JRinPA
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
That is too much. Really great stuff. I love how you keep fortifying with more sticks...and more sticks...and netting.
- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
A shocking amount of labor for the few peas I got. It was an experiment... I knew what I was in for. Good thing I had lots of sticks though!
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
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- bower
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Here is a pic of what was left after Rosebud and the twins. Flowers and tops are gone, but there are still some peas inside all those branches!
@JRinPA I noticed for the past couple of weeks that I have a lot of these large, bee sized, brown shiny things, which I finally got a pic of today just to make sure/find out what they are. I had a load of wasp stings recently and it hasn't encouraged me to go out when they're enjoying the sunshine, and I wondered if these newly abundant things were friends or foe. Took a look around internet, pretty sure they are tabanids aka horse fly, locally called a "stoat". Not sure if they came with the moose, or if they came in anticipation, waiting for more moose.
I'm just a smaller, thinner skinned moose to these things, is what I think.
Also I'm just a smaller, thinner skinned moose to these things, is what I think.
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AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm
- GoDawgs
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Re: Trellis for my tall peas
Larry and Odette! Moose storming through your peas! Quite appropriate.
This has been a great tale and losing your stuff to huge munchers isn't funny but in a way it is. Man vs moose. From simple trellis to trellis fortress... loved seeing the progression! I could just see you having a heart to heart with Delta as I've had such talks with the cats who, at the end of the lecture, just give you that look of indifference. "Meh..."
BTW, what are those tall flower stalks with the yellow blooms stacked going up the stems? Very pretty.
This has been a great tale and losing your stuff to huge munchers isn't funny but in a way it is. Man vs moose. From simple trellis to trellis fortress... loved seeing the progression! I could just see you having a heart to heart with Delta as I've had such talks with the cats who, at the end of the lecture, just give you that look of indifference. "Meh..."
BTW, what are those tall flower stalks with the yellow blooms stacked going up the stems? Very pretty.