Dumb question time..

[COMPOST CORNER]

I keep seeing instructions to plant peas & beans in a doble row.
What is a double row?
I don't undrstand the instruction Plant 9" apart in a double row with 24" between rows.
Help!!

[Capsid]

You plant 2 rows close together (9" for broad beans) and then 24" between the double row. The beans are planted like this to support each other and you need a 24" gap to get between them for picking and weeding.

[Flummery]

However, I plant mine either side of a spade-width scrape - so probably 7-8". It's not too critical. I also don't leave a full 24" between because I don't have a huge plot. 15" does ok.

[jayjay giant]

Its mainly for climbers. Bulid your wig wam or bean frame and plant one seed on the inside of the cane and one on the outside. That way they climb aup the pole and up each other. Then plants on the inside and outside of the pole only need to be planted about 2 - 3 inches apart. As for the spacings between rows, as long as the soil is fertile enough you can make your own mind up.
Hope this helps.
JJ

[Two_Sheds]

the 9" is how wide the broad beans grow.
the 24" is the space you need to get your body in to pick the beans


Peas go much closer together: about 2" apart from each other

[Alice]

I understand your confusion Compost Corner but think of it this way
The 24" between rows is to let you walk up and down between them, hoe weed etc BUT if you grow in beds there is no need to walj between the rows so no need for the 24". About 9" so that you can put your hand in to pick the peas or pull out the weeds is plenty.
A double row - well I scrape out a trench about 6" wide and plant the peas in a half diamond pattern - one to the left, one in the middle, one to the right, one to the left etc with about 4" between each one.
To try to describe - this means there are about 8" between each seed down each side of the trench with the other seeds 8" from each other down the middle but offset from the outside rows.
I hope this makes sense and helps.

[COMPOST CORNER]

Thanks peeps.
I planted my very late broad beans pretty much as described by Alice, I have done one "double row" 6 feet long, which will be the start (I hope) of next years legume bed. Plenty of room for more broadies & some peas early next year.

[Alison]

I tend to block plant broad beans in a square shape so that they can all support each as I find that thin rows get battered by the winds over winter. However, climbing peas go in rows over spring and summer. Works for me but there are 1001 ways of doing things.

[Snadger]

Mine are sown in a spade width shallow drill broadcast with seed with the soil returned Paths betwen drills are usually a couple of feet wide.