I don't have obelisks, but I do have 4 ft. wire fencing looped around and attached to a metal fence stake, like a pillar. I'm not the most experienced gardener on this site, but this is the second year in a row I've grown peas this way, and I'm happy with it.

I planted the outside edge only. This year one of the stalks grew up through the center of the pillar, and it's kind of a nuisance to reach through the other vines to reach the peas. Also, the middle plant probably isn't getting as much sun as the outside ones, and I imagine that the ventilation is probably better when plants are only on the outside (discourages mildew).

As far as tying them up, they're happy to wrap their little tendrils around anything skinny enough, including other pea stalks. Just keep an eye on them, and help them along occasionally be redirecting them where you want them to go. Occationally I tie them up when the stalks get too top heavy and pull away from the fencing.

Your setup sounds like a tomato ring. Works great for tomatoes. :) I'm glad you mentioned that - I'd been wondering about alternatives and didn't know if that would fly.

Thanks.

Toni

I have done this with a tepee of poles. I just circle each leg with 4 -5 beans. And the beans themselves do the affixing. They twine toward the sun.

I forgot to mention that the stake is about 6 feet high, so the loop of wire fencing hovers about a foot off the ground. At this point, the plants have grown to about a foot from the top of the fencing.