Okay, my peas planted in planter box at home are really doing well. Peas planted at the same time in guttering and transplanted to the garden are pathetic, sparse, yellow, sickly. At first I thought they got set back from that late cold snap and weren't covered as the ones here were. Now I'm discussing with my son about why and that they were planted where there was alfalfa for three years.

Anyone know if alfalfa is alleopathic to legumes and that might be my problem?

Alfalfa is well known for producing allelopathic chemicals that suppress its own seedlings. I've never read anything specific to the effects of those chemicals on peas, but it wouldn't be surprising if they were harmful to peas as well.

That's kind of what we were thinking, now that we see the difference in the two. Thanks!