A roll of trellis netting strung between two stakes is the simplest, cheapest, most effective bean and pea trellis you can build. The mesh costs less than a coffee, sets up in ten minutes, and out-performs purpose-built trellises for sheer plant attachment surface. The only real choice is what mesh size and how durable.
At a glance: our top 5 picks
Our 5 picks reviewed
EcoGardener Trellis Netting (5x30ft)
What we love
- Long 30ft roll covers a whole bed
- 6in mesh suits beans and peas both
- UV-stabilised — multiple seasons
- Honest price
Watch out for
- Tangles when removing
- Single-use cotton equivalent is more eco
A 30-foot roll of polypropylene mesh covers a serious bean or pea row — typically two seasons of full beans before any tearing. The 6-inch grid is right for both crops, the UV stabilisation means it doesn't go brittle by mid-summer, and the price is honestly cheap. Tangles are the only real complaint at season's end. We use a roll a year.
Check price on Amazon →Hortova Plant Trellis Netting (5x15ft)
What we love
- Aggressive value for short rows
- Easy to deploy on a single bed
- Reusable for one or two seasons
- Soft mesh — easy on tendrils
Watch out for
- Lighter gauge than premium options
- Tears at intersections under load
A 15-foot roll suits a single 4x6ft bed of peas or beans. The mesh gauge is honestly light — tearing at intersections by year two — but the price is half the premium options. We use these for snow peas where the load is moderate; switch to heavier mesh for runner beans.
Check price on Amazon →Trellis Direct Heavy Duty Net (6x60ft)
What we love
- Commercial-grade polypro
- Genuine 5+ year lifespan
- 6ft tall — Telegraph cucumbers happy
- Long roll for whole gardens
Watch out for
- Premium pricing
- Overkill for one bed
For serious productive gardeners growing a 30+ foot run of beans or peas, the heavy-duty net is genuinely commercial-grade. Five-plus year lifespan in our experience, 6ft tall (so it works for cucumbers and even small Telegraph varieties), and the 60-foot roll covers a market-garden-sized planting. Overkill for a single bed; ideal for repeating annual use.
Check price on Amazon →EcoGarden Jute Pea Netting (5x33ft)
What we love
- Fully biodegradable
- Compost the whole net
- No microplastic shedding
- Honest natural look
Watch out for
- Single season only
- Rots through over winter
For gardeners who don't want polypropylene microplastic shedding into beds, jute netting is the natural alternative. It biodegrades through one season — perfect for an annual pea or snow pea crop where you compost the whole net at clean-up. The 5-inch mesh is right for peas; slightly small for runner beans. Costs more per use than poly mesh because it's single-use, but the eco trade-off is real.
Check price on Amazon →Bonsicoky Garden Netting Pre-Cut Panels
What we love
- Pre-cut to bed sizes
- No measure-and-cut faff
- Soft mesh
- 3-pack for a vegetable garden
Watch out for
- Limited size options
- Lighter than commercial netting
For gardeners who hate fiddling with rolls and cutting mesh to size, pre-cut panels are the right call. The 4x6ft size suits standard raised beds, the 4-inch mesh is ideal for peas and snow peas, and the 3-pack lets you set up multiple beds without wrestling a single roll. We use these for pea rotations because the pre-cut sizing makes setup so quick.
Check price on Amazon →How we picked
- Tested mesh durability across multiple Australian summers.
- Compared cotton, polypropylene and PE mesh for reuse vs disposability.
- Counted bean and pea yields per metre of netting.
- Reviewed mesh tear-resistance under heavy fruit load.
- Surveyed Amazon reviews specifically for year-3+ longevity.
What to look for in a best bean pea trellis netting
- Mesh size: 4 inch for peas and snow peas, 6 inch for beans, 8 inch for runner beans.
- Polypropylene mesh lasts 3-5 seasons with care; cotton biodegrades in one.
- Width: standard rolls are 5-6ft tall — tall enough for most varieties.
- Look for UV-stabilised mesh — non-UV polypropylene gets brittle in one summer.
- Anchor with T-posts, garden stakes or fence wire — the netting itself is too soft to support load.
Frequently asked questions
What mesh size for peas vs beans?
Peas and snow peas like 4-5 inch mesh. Climbing beans and runner beans want 6-8 inch mesh — anything smaller and the bean stems can't weave through.
How long does pea netting last?
UV-stabilised polypropylene: 3-5 seasons with careful handling. Standard polypro: 1-2 seasons. Jute: 1 season then composted.
How do I support pea netting?
Two T-posts or sturdy stakes at the ends of the row, fishing line or wire across the top, and the netting hung from the wire. Or stretch between two corner posts of a raised bed.
Can I reuse pea netting?
Yes — clean it at season's end (cut spent vines off, hose down), roll up, store dry. Untangling at next plant-out is the slow part. Some gardeners build wooden frames the netting stays on year-round.
Pea netting or trellis panel?
Netting for sheer cheapness and surface area; panels for permanent installations and aesthetics. Most market gardeners use netting; ornamental gardens use panels.
The bottom line
Our top pick is the EcoGardener Trellis Netting (5x30ft) — the best balance of build quality, real-world performance and price for most home gardeners. If you’re tight on budget, the Hortova Plant Trellis Netting (5x15ft) gets the job done at honest entry pricing. If money’s no object and you want the heirloom version, the Trellis Direct Heavy Duty Net (6x60ft) will outlast everything else here.
