Peas in a Pod

The trick with climbing plants is to get some support in place before you find them rambling all over. Luckily, these raised beds are filled with fairly soft soil so I was able to push six bamboo sticks down into it —  three on each side — and then tie them together at the tops, two by two, creating three upside-down V shapes. After that, it was as simple as tying sticks crosswise for the plants to grab onto as they grow. If you’ve got harder ground, you might need to get some holes started by hammering a spike into the earth first. Once these snap peas grow I can harvest not only the peas in their crisp, edible shells, but also the young leaves and tendrils for a tasty addition to salads and to use as a delicious, elegant garnish. Let me know if you build your own little trellis and how it goes!