Robert wrote:
"H Ryder" wrote in message
...
Am new to vegetables so sorry for this probably stupid question
I've bought some peas (Kelvader Wonder) and Broad Beans (Sutton). The
packets each seem to contain enough for a small field. What sort of
yield do you usually get off one plant? How many do people with
small veg patches (4 raised beds of about 4' by 12' each and lots of
fruit round the edges) plant? So far I've planted about 10 of each
(2 rows). Is this reasonable or will I be struggling to get enough
for a meal? TIA

--
Hayley
(gardening on well drained, alkaline clay in Somerset)
You will definitely struggle with that amount. Best way for peas, as
you haven't much room, is to take out a narrow trench say 12 feet
long , 2 or 3 inches deep and sprinkle the whole packet or more in.
You have to allow 1 for slugs, one for rot, one for birds and one for
yourself! For broad beans I would plant another 12 foot row of fives
(as I call it), i.e. 3 rows each about 6 inches apart, the middle row
alternating between the other two if you get my drift.. Obviously you
can extend or shorten depending on what else you want to plant but
those would give you something worthwhile. With peas you want to put
nets or sticks up for them to cling to and this will also help to
keep off the pigeons which are a problem in my area. The beans may
need some horizontal rope supports later although I believe the
Sutton is a smaller growing variety so there may be no need.

PS I see you're on clay, will it be warm enough for peas yet...you'll
soon find out

I reckon it's not too soon for early varieties even on cold clay; but a
month's time for the main crop, would you say?

Robert's right about dense sowing, Hayley: you don't actually get all
that many from each vine, and they're happy close together. I go even
closer than he does: about two to three inches (no need to measure!)
between seeds, but in a double not a triple row.

--
Mike.