I've had that happen, but for a given variety, the yield seems to change year-to-year. Not sure why.

Can't really compare bean and pea production with any validity. Peas in general have always been considered a low production crop relative to space required. In other words they require lots of space for relatively low levels of production. Snap peas a bit less wasteful of space since you get to eat the pods too. Pole beans just the opposite - little space but lots of production.

But yeah, pea production is proportionately higher relative to length of vine just as with most any vining crop. Genetics of the variety plays a big role but it is only one of the variables involved - soil temps, planting dates, humidity, soil fertility, weather, microbe counts/inoculants, etc.

Dave

Since you want to add more space for peas, try two varieties. Maybe one will shine better in your conditions. Have a row of Super Sugar Snap since you're familiar with that one, and try something like Sugar Lace in another row.

Are the semi-leafless varieties worthwhile?

I might try about four varieties next spring.

I haven't bothered with fall crops - if you plant early enough to get them to mature, it's too hot for the seedlings to grow well.

Yes, i've tried a fall crop and they only grow about a foot tall with few flowers. So I stopped bothering.

Responding to the question about afila ( leafless) pea. As far as I know all these are English (shelling) peas. I tied Novella years ago and it was worthless under my conditions. I n later years I have grown Survivor and PLS 595. Both was were excellent performers. They also have great flavor. Of regular leaf English peas Green Arrow performs slightly better than Penelope for me. Wando is dependable but falls short on flavor. I have not been happy with performance of any Pisum for fall harvest. I do plant smooth seeded( usually Willets Wonder, but sometimes Alaska) in late November for early spring harvest. Works well in the south.

FWIW, I believe the protein content of sugar snap peas is about twice that of green beans. So if you get half the sugar snap peas as you do green beans, you're breaking even nutritionally.

Can't compare peas to beans. There's a reason why snap/snow peas go for higher prices. Yield = maturityAge X seasonGrowing + plantHealth + soilComposition . Where as beans don't have much limitations and can yield good pretty much anytime and in any garden. Hence why they are a good novice plant.

And no height doesn't really play a part, it's more so maturity and plant health.