Gardening is often about creativity and making the most of available resources. For gardeners growing climbing plants like sugar snap peas, providing a strong, durable support system is essential. While traditional trellises and stakes work well, there’s an innovative, eco-friendly alternative that combines sustainability with functionality: transforming old fishing nets into a vertical wall. Not only does this repurpose waste material, but it also provides an ideal climbing structure for peas, maximizing vertical space and increasing yields. In this article, we’ll explore step-by-step how to turn old fishing nets into a vertical wall for sugar snap peas, along with tips to make it safe, effective, and visually appealing.
Why Vertical Growing Works for Sugar Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas are climbers by nature. In the wild, they grow along fences, shrubs, or other supports. Vertical growing offers several advantages:
- Maximizes Space: Growing upward allows gardeners to save precious ground space, ideal for small gardens or urban plots.
- Improves Air Circulation: Elevating the plants reduces humidity around leaves, minimizing fungal infections like powdery mildew.
- Easier Harvesting: Vertical growth keeps pods at eye level, making them easier to see and pick.
- Healthier Plants: Climbing reduces contact with soil, which lowers the risk of pests and soil-borne diseases.
While traditional trellises or bamboo stakes are effective, repurposed fishing nets offer a sustainable, flexible alternative that’s lightweight, strong, and easy to install.
The Benefits of Using Old Fishing Nets
Old fishing nets are an excellent material for vertical gardens. Here’s why:
- Durability: Made from nylon or polypropylene, fishing nets withstand weather, rain, and wind, lasting multiple growing seasons.
- Flexibility: Nets can be cut, tied, or stretched to fit your garden space perfectly.
- Eco-Friendly: Repurposing nets reduces waste and gives discarded materials a second life.
- Lightweight Structure: Nets are easier to handle than wood or metal trellises, especially for larger garden areas.
By creatively reusing these nets, gardeners can build an inexpensive, resilient structure for climbing plants like sugar snap peas.
Step 1: Collecting and Preparing Fishing Nets
Before constructing your vertical wall, start by sourcing and preparing the nets:
- Source Nets: Look for old or damaged nets from fishing communities, thrift stores, or online marketplaces. Ensure they are clean and free of heavy debris.
- Clean Nets: Rinse thoroughly with water to remove dirt, salt, or residue. For nets with mildew, soak in a mild vinegar solution for 20–30 minutes, then rinse and air dry.
- Repair Holes: Inspect the net for tears. Small holes can be mended with garden twine or strong thread to ensure uniform support for your peas.
Proper preparation ensures your net is safe for plants and free from contaminants that could harm seedlings.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Location
Selecting the ideal location for your vertical sugar snap pea wall is crucial:
- Sunlight: Sugar snap peas thrive in full sun (6–8 hours per day). Choose a spot with consistent light exposure.
- Soil Quality: Ensure the soil is fertile, well-draining, and slightly neutral (pH 6–7). Incorporate compost or aged manure to improve growth.
- Wind Protection: While nets are durable, extreme winds may cause stress to plants. Place near a wall, fence, or shrub barrier for partial wind protection.
- Accessibility: Position the net where harvesting is easy. Since sugar snap peas produce frequently, convenient access encourages regular picking and better yields.
The right location ensures strong growth and maximizes the benefits of vertical gardening.
Step 3: Constructing the Vertical Wall
Once nets and site are ready, it’s time to build your vertical wall:
Materials Needed:
- Old fishing net
- Wooden or metal stakes/poles (6–8 feet tall)
- Zip ties, garden twine, or plastic clips
- Hammer or mallet (for stakes)
- Optional: Screws or hooks for additional support
Steps:
- Install Support Poles: Place stakes or poles in the ground 4–6 feet apart along the desired wall length. Drive them at least 1 foot into the soil for stability.
- Attach Nets: Stretch the fishing net between poles vertically, securing at the top, middle, and bottom with zip ties or twine. Ensure the net is taut but not overly tight, allowing pea tendrils to grip easily.
- Reinforce Structure: If needed, attach crossbars or horizontal supports for additional stability. This is especially useful for long nets or areas with high wind.
- Adjust Height: Sugar snap peas grow 4–6 feet tall. Make sure your vertical wall is tall enough to accommodate full growth while allowing harvesting from the ground.
This construction method is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and highly adaptable to different garden layouts.
Step 4: Planting Sugar Snap Peas
With your vertical wall ready, you can plant sugar snap peas at the base:
- Spacing: Plant seeds 2 inches apart and 1–2 inches deep. Thin seedlings to 3–4 inches apart once they sprout to prevent overcrowding.
- Support Guidance: As seedlings grow, gently guide their tendrils toward the net. Most pea varieties naturally climb, but early training ensures even coverage.
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during germination and early growth. Avoid waterlogging, as peas prefer well-drained soil.
Planting along a fishing net wall encourages vertical growth, reduces disease risk, and keeps pods clean and accessible.
Step 5: Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Maintaining your vertical sugar snap pea wall is straightforward:
- Regular Watering: Deep watering once or twice a week is better than frequent shallow watering. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture.
- Fertilization: Use a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea every 3–4 weeks to support vigorous growth and pod production. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages foliage over flowers.
- Trellis Adjustment: As peas grow, check the net and ties for tension. Loosen or adjust zip ties to prevent tearing.
- Pest Management: Inspect for aphids, powdery mildew, or other common pests. Natural remedies like neem oil or insecticidal soap work well on vertical nets.
Consistent care ensures strong plants and maximizes your harvest.
Step 6: Harvesting Sugar Snap Peas
One of the advantages of vertical walls is easy harvesting:
- Frequent Picking: Harvest pods every 1–2 days to encourage continuous production.
- Handle Carefully: Use both hands to avoid damaging vines while picking.
- Encourage Growth: Regular harvesting stimulates new flowers and pods, ensuring a longer season.
With a fishing net wall, the pods remain off the ground, reducing rot and providing clean, ready-to-eat peas.
Additional Tips for a Successful Vertical Wall
- Companion Planting: Interplant with radishes, carrots, or herbs to make efficient use of space and naturally deter pests.
- Season Extension: Use row covers over the net during cooler months to protect young plants from frost.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Fishing nets can be painted or decorated to add a charming visual element to your garden.
- Repurposing Nets: Even damaged nets can be cut into smaller sections for multiple walls or combined with trellis mesh for added strength.
These small adjustments increase both productivity and visual appeal in your garden.
Why This Method Works
Fishing nets provide a flexible, breathable surface for sugar snap peas to climb. Unlike rigid trellises, the net’s grid allows tendrils to wrap naturally, mimicking their natural growth habits. The vertical arrangement promotes better sunlight exposure, airflow, and pod visibility. Combined with careful planting and maintenance, this method results in healthier plants, higher yields, and cleaner, easier-to-harvest peas.
Conclusion: Sustainable Vertical Gardening Made Easy
Repurposing old fishing nets for a sugar snap pea vertical wall is a creative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for gardeners. This method saves space, encourages healthy climbing growth, reduces disease and pest issues, and makes harvesting easier. By following the steps outlined—from preparing nets and choosing the right location to planting, training, and maintaining your peas—you can create a productive and visually appealing vertical garden that’s both practical and sustainable.
Not only does this approach support your plants, but it also contributes to waste reduction by giving old nets a new purpose. With minimal investment and a bit of creativity, you can enjoy bountiful sugar snap peas while promoting an eco-conscious gardening practice. Whether you have a small urban garden or a larger backyard plot, transforming old fishing nets into vertical walls is a simple, effective, and rewarding way to grow your crops.