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Pea and Bean Support Calculator — Stakes, Netting & Structures
Work out support structures and netting for climbing peas and beans.
Plant spacing and support height auto-set from RHS guidance for the crop you pick
Length of one planting row in metres — used to space plants and size supports
How many rows of this crop you are supporting (double rows count as two)
Unit price for cost estimation
Distance between support stakes (default 1.5m)
How We Calculate This
Plants per row = Row length ÷ Plant spacing (peas 7.5cm, climbing French beans 15cm, broad beans 23cm — RHS spacings). Stakes use fence-post logic: one post every Stake Spacing along the row, plus one for the final end.
Climbing crops (peas, French beans) get one run of vertical netting per row at the variety's support height — 1.5m for peas, 1.8m for climbing French beans. Broad beans get a stake-and-string frame: stakes both sides of the row, with horizontal string courses every 30cm up the frame (RHS).
Dwarf peas use twiggy sticks at 30cm intervals to keep plants upright without netting. Adjust Stake Spacing in Advanced options — RHS recommends 1.2m for broad-bean stakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Climbing peas need 1.5m tall netting or supports. Dwarf peas only need 60cm and can use twiggy sticks.
Yes. Pea netting with 10-15cm mesh is ideal. Avoid very fine mesh as pea tendrils struggle to grip it. Biodegradable jute netting is a sustainable option.
RHS advice is to push sturdy stakes in at each corner of the rows and every 1.2m (4ft) along them. Run string around the outside at 30cm (1ft) intervals up the stakes to stop the plants flopping. Set the Stake Spacing to 1.2m for broad beans (the 1.5m default suits general climbing supports).
Install supports at planting time or before. Adding supports later risks damaging roots and established growth.
Pea sticks (twiggy branches) are traditional and work perfectly. Netting on canes, chicken wire, or purpose-made pea frames all work well for climbing varieties.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.