I'd space them 2-3 in. throughout the entire bed as you would in rows, for those that don't need trellises.

For those that need trellises, the only problem I see with planting something in the middle is reaching them. Think about it. If your peas are thick and tall in double rows, how will you harvest what's in the middle?

Instead, I'd plant two double rows with the first trellis about 6 inches from the side as you've mentioned -- just make sure the soil is as good there as in the middle of the bed. Then space the next trellis about 2 feet from that one for the next row. Use the space next to the unplanted side for shorter things that can tolerate some shade. The closer pea spacing will be fine, and you'll be able to reach whatever else you plant if it's right next to the side.

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Double row of peas.
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Double row of peas.
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Beets or lettuce, etc.
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A long time ago when working at a canning factory, all peas were harvested at once. Peas are very labor intensive for what you get. I have planted peas in a solid block about 4 ft wide and 8 ft long. I scattered radish and onion set in the same area. When the green onions and radishes were done I pulled up the vines and shelled the peas sitting in the shade. I didn't see a need to pick a few to eat. Window of harvest is short.

Fill bed with rows 6/8" apart--seed 1-1/2to 2" apart

Thanks for the quick advice! I think I have a plan of action now. I believe I'll plant one bed full of the early dwarf variety (Sugar Ann) and also one or two beds with trellises along both edges to support the main crop of full sized Sugar Snap vines. Down the middle two feet I'll plant beets and turnips.

>> For those that need trellises, the only problem
>> I see with planting something in the middle is reaching
>> them. Think about it. If your peas are thick and
>> tall in double rows, how will you harvest what's
>> in the middle

Anney, my raised beds are 4 feet wide and either 16 or 25 feet long. The soil has been heavily amended with compost so it is nice and soft and I avoid walking on it as much as possible. But my plan for harvesting the the middle crop between the two pea trellises was to walk down the middle of the row to harvest the beets/turnips. I figured I would lay down 2ft. x 2ft. squares of plywood to walk on so that my weight is distributed over a larger surface area to avoid soil compaction.

It would obviously be easier to harvest the beets if I would plant just one double row of the tall peas down the middle on a trellis and then use the 1.5 feet on either side for beets and turnips. But I'd really prefer to maximize my snap pea production because they should return a much higher profit per square foot at the farmers market than beets.

This is my first year growing for market using my small intensive urban garden so I'm trying to maximize my crop value per square foot. In the past I've just grown vegetables for myself so I never bothered to consider the value per square foot of different crops.

Steve, I've had pretty good luck with running cattle panels down the middle of a raised bed like that, held up with t-posts, and planting peas along the panel. That still leaves you plenty of room on the outer edges of your raised bed to plant other stuff like carrots, beets, chard, or something that gets around a foot high.

I don't think you need to actually plant the peas on both sides of the trellis. One side, closely planted, will do. I think it's Johnny's who recommend that you plant the heck out of the pea seed, almost touching. I tried this once and stuck to it. Buy seed in bulk, it's about $8 a lb, and plant about half a lb of seed in 16 foot of cattle panel. Amazing, the peas sort it out between themselves but the result is a solid wall of peas, both sides of the trellis.

When they're done, just pull up the pea hay, use it on compost or lay it down as a mulch. I usually plant pole beans the same day I pull the hay and get a late summer crop. Other times, I just replant peas again.

>> Amazing, the peas sort it out between themselves
>> but the result is a solid wall of peas, both sides
>> of the trellis.

Is this wall so solid that you have to have access to both sides of the trellis to harvest the peas? My idea with having one trellis along each edge with 2 feet of beets in between was dependent on being able to harvest all the peas from the pathway, reaching through the trellis to pick the inside peas. But perhaps this isn't feasible when the plants are growing so thickly?