Final Spacing for Bush Beans and Black-Eyed Peas?

I planted some Contender bush beans and some unknown variety of Black-Eyed peas a couple of weeks ago. I need to thin them, but what is the final spacing?

I planted Contender beans last fall and was fairly pleased. I planted 1/ sq ft but I will try 2/ sq ft in my beds. I am planting in rows using the square-foot method. I would think at least 9" will work, so I am curious as to what others have to say.

We planted bush beans last year (Blue Lake) and they were good, but we didn't get nearly the harvest we wanted. Unfortunately, I don't remember how far apart we planted them! lol

I plant bush beans every year and never seem to get the temperature/weather timing right - lol. Steph, I plant bush beans 9/sq ft and that seems to work well for them. They're about 4" apart.

Thanks! We were figuring between 3"-6". I probably can Google it, but figured someone here would know off the top of their head.

That's the spacing I use. Never grown black-eyed peas, so not too sure about those. Maybe Linda or Carmen would know as I think they both grow them. Carmen sent me some seeds which I will plant once I pull the rest of the carrots - soon - so I'm interested in what others have to say about their spacing as well...

Steph, You seem to have planted them in rows. If so the standard spacing is 3-6 inches. I use bean plates in the planter and it works out well. Use the same plates for Blackeyes ( cal # 5)

Good to know, everyone! Looks like I've been wasting all kinds of space, huh? Looking back at how my fall '09 planting turned out, I figured the Provider beans would just seem like a jumbled mess if I planted 9/ sq ft. But, if you guys say they can be squeezed in tighter then I'll be planting more like 4" apart!!!

Squeeze 'em in John. They are sparse plants for the most part and mine do well planted that spacing.

Farmerdill, what are bean plates?

So I can plant both my black-eyes and my green beans approx. 4" apart?

Steph. mechanical planters have flat plates with holes in them. They are designed for many different types of crops. Those for beans will drop a bean every 4 inches, except small beans will drop several in a hill. Special plates are available. They do do grow fairly big bushes. Standard practice is to drill in 36 inch rows. In good soil they still may meet in the row. With a moderate bean patch, hand harvesting can be a problem when the vines are too thick.

Thanks for that info! Learn something new everyday around here!

We always planted bush beans in hills about six inchs a part. Two or three seed to the hill. Peas we planted one inch apart in a solid row.

Well, we didn't measure, just made the line, dropped the seeds in, and covered. LOL

When I lived in Tennessee, I grew only bush beans, but now I'm older, my back complains about all that bending - so now I only grow pole beans and pick-em standing up:)

We'll be growing pole beans, too. Last year's pole bean crop was a bust, so this year, I'm praying for better success.

My pole beans are getting killed so far thanks to some stupid little bunny rabbit. There is a large, open field behind my house and our gate in the back has a gap underneath for all the critter to come n' go as they please. The rabbit even pulled-up 2 of my okra seedlings as well- didn't eat them, though- just pulled them out to where there's a lone root barley in the ground. I thought the rabbit was cute at first but not anymore.

This weekend, I will need to construct some sort of barrier. Heck, I'm gonna try and do it right now in fact...

We put poultry netting on our gate - it was initially meant to keep in our puppy, but has proven useful in keeping out rabbits. Our puppy will be three this summer :)

The *&^%$# blue jays have been yanking some of my seedlings out of the ground. I really wish I had a pea shooter or a BB gun. I think BB guns are illegal within city limits, tho. Not sure how good of an aim I am with a pea shooter (slingshot).

I bought nylon net/tulle at the fabric store (black, so it wasn't so noticable) to cover some of my rows, after the rabbits ate all of the Swiss Chard. I used some short 2x4's to hold down the edges. Has worked well for over a week. Didn't know they would eat the beans, too!

I'm thinking of using tulle on my pumpkins this year to deter the squash vine borers. I'm not sure if bird netting would still allow them to get through or not.

I've read planting a ring of radishes, or laying sand or crushed eggshells around the plant stem will help against the squash vine borers, too. I've not seen bird netting up close, but in the catalogs it looks like the holes would be too big to deter any bugs.

The tulle I bought I was 60" wide so easily covers my 30" wide rows. Each row is 20' long and I cut 8 yard lengths for each row. I bought it at a local store at 30% off and it was still 80 cents a yard. I think it's cheaper at Hobby Lobby or a larger size store.

I usually get the tulle from the remnants section. LOL

Too late in the year here to grow radishes to deter SVB, but I have tons of eggshells I could use. The problem is that the SV Moth is a flying pest and she lays her eggs on the stems, branches, and base of the plant.

Whatever netting you use, be sure the openings are large enough to let in your pollinators. Some veggies - such as tomatoes - are wind pollinated, but most need bees or other insects.

Or, you could use a soft make-up brush and pollinate the flowers yourself :)