Direction to plant peas/beans?

[Matt.]

How do you plan the rows of peas and beans? Do you arrange the line north to south so that one line gets sun in the morning the other in afternoon or does it not matter if its east west? I'm trying to plan my layout and am a bit unsure. Instictivly I think north south because that will also limit shading but it may require some re-planning of everything else? Also before anyone comments I am fully aware you plant them physically downwards (into the ground)

[Flummery]

As I grow in the garden I have planted them both ways (not at once!) depending on the shape of the bit of plot I'm using this year. I haven't found much problem with shade. When they are growing fully and are up the pole, so to speak, the sun is at its highest. Many plants (salads for instance) appreciate a bit of shade. I haven't found any difference enough to notice in the yields either of the peas/beans or the crops near them.

[Alison]

Am with Flum on this one, the biggest effect on yield tends to be water and feed. If you've done decent bean trench then, in my experience, you can't go wrong.

[rustylady]

The books advise to plant rows North to South, but I tend to plant in patches and the bean frame which was already on the lottie is sort of Northwest to Southeast. Still get good results, though.