Looking to grow sweet peas or other crops on an arched trellis? Here is a great How-To guide!
I just love this arched trellis and it couldn’t be any easier to build. @urbanfarmstead on Instagram inspired me a few years ago with his arched trellis! So instead of showing you how to build it, I thought it would be more helpful for you to check out his Instagram highlight for Arched Trellis or his FAQ page has some instructions!
But the basic run down is you grab some T-posts and prop up a 16′ livestock panel from Tractor Supply in between the T-posts, then secure in place. Easy peasy.
I found some photos of the arch over the years and you can see how our backyard has transformed and how the sweet peas really take over!
What to plant:
For a magical arch of blooming flowers in spring, I direct plant my sweet pea seeds in October along the base. We live in a hot Mediterranean climate, so planting times may be different for you.
For a fun summer harvest under the canopy of hanging vegetables, in May I switch out to cucumber plugs. I add in a few Love-in-a-puff plants since they are quick to fill it in with green foliage. It’s a little later than I would like to plant these summer crops in our climate, but it gives me a little extra time with the Sweet Peas! This year I mixed some watermelon, Scarlett Runner beans, and butternut squash plants in with the various cucumbers.
Tips:
- As the plants begin to grow, carefully weave the ends in and out of the trellis squares. If things get a little unruly, try tying string from front to back on either side of the trellis. This will keep the plants against the trellis and force them to grow up. Keep adding string as the vines get taller.
- After the season is over, I cut down the Sweet Peas, leaving the roots in the ground for that added boost of nitrogen.
- I used an air compressor or blower to blow out my pathway under the arch after removing the dead crop. Then I sweep up all the remaining bits of dried vines that are leftover. This helps clear any diseases or pests that the old crop had.
Stay tuned on Instagram @verbena.living to see how the trellis fills in with the summer crop! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peak at what you can expect.
