It could well be, Dove. Obviously things like peas and beans naturally drop lots of seeds on the ground very close to the mother plants so will have evolved to grow closely together anyway. It would be logical to assume that's also why they produce their own nitrogen in the root nodules and don't need much in the way of nutrition. Enough water and a few vital nutrients and away they go!
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
I've pretty much torn up the rule book since looking into modern no dig, spacings are alien, results are extraordinary.
Taking some of the advice onto my traditional plot this season, such as close garlic spacing and inter cropping has been an eye opener. Having said that tatties and sweetcorn are still spaced out in regimented rows at exact established and recommended distances.
Just a note that my very close spacing for peas is for dwarf varieties to address Dove's point.
I've a feeling I have as much interest in different methods of growing veg as growing veg itself at times.
I save seed each year, peas and runner beans, but am never sure whether the peas I've saved are definitely fertile. I therefore buy a couple of packets of new seed each year and sprinkle them evenly along the drill, however long it happens to be that year. That done, I then sprinkle all the saved seed along on top of them and cover them over as normal. I give them a few handfuls of chicken manure pellets before covering them, but that's it.
@Kmeh. As you grow, you'll discover that seed packet spacing is a general 'suggestion'. And as you grow, you'll get an idea of the general size of a plant full grown and can visualize about how much space they will need to be healthy and productive. You learn tricks about spacing and intercropping. For example, right now in my garden I am picking the radishes I planted next to my bush beans.. while also watching the okra seedlings that were planted a bit later than the radishes but in the same row. The beans are far closer than the recommended distance, but they will be fine as they are at the edge of the raised bed and will get the light from the side (my beds are oriented north/south).. the radishes will soon all be gone.. and the okra was planted a bit further apart than recommended to not shade out the bush beans overly much, as it's a taller plant. I usually trim off a few bottom leaves to give the beans or shorter veg more light. My kale is much closer than recommended, as I will thin them out once they grow more.. and eat the thinnings. This year I've planted my cucumbers right next to my peas.. knowing the peas and fence will be removed before the cucumbers really need space to spread. So it's a science of sunlight, soil fertility, timing, and plant knowledge. 😁. Something I am still working on. For now, I recommend you err on the side of 'a bit closer than recommended, but not too close'. Nothing worse than waiting all summer to find your plants have not produced because they were lacking light or root space.
Here's my Ambassador variety, planted about 10cm apart. They tend to self support after a helping hand up a stick. I planted them even closer together last year and got a bumper crop, but had trouble harvesting it because of the spacing (they're planted in a block, not a row), so I lost a couple of plants in the middle that went to seed.
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Taking some of the advice onto my traditional plot this season, such as close garlic spacing and inter cropping has been an eye opener. Having said that tatties and sweetcorn are still spaced out in regimented rows at exact established and recommended distances.
Just a note that my very close spacing for peas is for dwarf varieties to address Dove's point.
I've a feeling I have as much interest in different methods of growing veg as growing veg itself at times.
For now, I recommend you err on the side of 'a bit closer than recommended, but not too close'. Nothing worse than waiting all summer to find your plants have not produced because they were lacking light or root space.
@BobTheGardener those blue/purple pods look amazing