When the soil is between 13 and 18 C or 55 to 65 F, sweet pea seeds will begin to sprout. In holes that are about two inches (two knuckles) deep, plant seeds. Fill each hole with two to four seeds, and spacing them four to six inches apart. Till seeds have sprouted, thoroughly water and maintain soil moisture.
Does it need to be soaked before planting sweet pea seeds?
To aid in seed germination, many individuals advise soaking seeds overnight before sowing. This is due to the hard outer shell of some types. Others, though, contend that soaking might make plants weaker.
However, you might try slightly shattering the seed’s outer shell right before sowing if you’ve previously had difficulties getting the seeds to germinate.
On the side opposite the seed’s black “eye” or scar, carefully nick the shell with a sharp knife or rub it with sandpaper.
when to plant sweet peas
When between October and April, plant sweet pea seeds. Aim for late October or late November or late February or early March for the best outcomes because midwinter temperatures and light conditions aren’t the optimum. In April or May, sweet peas can also be planted directly into the ground. During a moderate period between March and May, sow your sweet pea seeds and plants.
How long does it take sweet pea seeds to bloom?
One of the best plants for cutting, sweet peas (officially known as Lathyrus odoratus) offer tempting colors and aroma for spring and early summer bouquets. The tiny flowers emit a grape-like fragrance into the air and come in a variety of beautiful colors. We enlisted the assistance of Barb Pierson, our nursery manager, to provide some guidance for individuals who have never grown Sweet Peas in a garden or a container pot. Any beginner or green thumb can benefit from a plentiful supply of these lovely flowers thanks to her advice.
Why do people grow Sweet Peas?
Sweet peas are cultivated for their lovely, ruffled blossoms, which come in pastel, blue, and bicolor hues. They are a beautiful cut flower since many types have scented blooms. The cultivation and breeding of sweet peas for both the home grower and the florist industry has a long history.
How do I go about growing Sweet Peas?
Sweet peas can be grown from seed that is treated before sowing or, more conveniently, from a starting plant. At White Flower Farm, we plant three seeds in each pot to create three Sweet Pea vines.
Where do I plant them and when?
In the northern half of the US, sweet peas flourish in the full sun. They can benefit from afternoon shade in the South. They are planted as early as possible in the spring since they prefer mild temperatures and cool roots. Newly planted seedlings will not be harmed by a mild cold. They can be sown in the fall and cultivated through the winter and early spring in highly warm climates. Compost should be added to the soil, and the area should be well-drained for optimal results. Sweet peas can be successfully grown in raised beds.
Do they need any special care while they are growing?
Sweet peas require support to grow and flower because they are climbing plants. Many other kinds of structures, like a trellis, supports made of mesh or wire, or fences, can be used. To sustain the weight of the vines, they require a sturdy framework that is firmly planted in the ground. The vegetation will develop tendrils that encircle the support you offer.
Since they like nutrient-rich soil, adding compost at planting time is advised. Mulching Sweet Peas will keep the roots cool and help them retain moisture as they grow.
Pinch the growth tips by one after the plants have reached a height of around six to encourage branching and the development of extra flowering stems.
What are the most common mistakes that people make with Sweet Peas?
- planting them in the middle of the summer They dislike the heat and won’t blossom as frequently.
- not offering assistance when planting. Once the plants have begun to grow, it is challenging to install your trellis or support.
- Lack of compost or fertilizer will cause weak plants and fewer flowers in poor soil.
- If Sweet Peas are planted too closely together without being thinned out, powdery mildew can grow and crowding lowers bloom production.
Do Sweet Peas produce pods that you can eat like the ones you find in the grocery store?
Despite having the appearance of snap pea pods, the seed pods are not edible. The pods and seeds can be saved in order to grow plants the following year. Remember that the plants that the seeds may grow may not be the same hue as the parent plant.
Will the plants come back again next year?
The plants are typically not winter hardy in most areas. They are replanted with new seed and plants even in warm climates to produce the most flowers and have robust development.
When do they bloom? Are there tips for getting extra blossoms?
Sweet peas will begin to blossom 4 to 6 weeks after they begin to show apparent vining. Whether or not the plants have been pulled back will affect the timing of the bloom. Although pinching may slightly limit growth, it will result in bushier plants with more flowers. In the spring and early summer, sweet peas will grow and bloom more quickly as the days lengthen. Compost or old dry manure can aid to supply nutrients for the growth of huge, many blooms. A fertilizer with a phosphorus to nitrogen ratio greater than one can also increase flower production.
What is the process for cutting the blooms?
Cut the blossoms early in the day to prevent the sun from drying them off. For your vase, select newly opened flowers with the longest stems. Just the side flowering stems of the plant should be clipped; leave the main stem alone.
Why should I get my Sweet Peas from White Flower Farm?
No seed treatment or waiting for germination is necessary because our plants are grown in our greenhouses in the spring and supplied to you at the ideal time for planting in your region. Our sweet peas arrive completely rooted and ready to plant in the ground in 4 pots, each containing 3 seedlings. You can avoid the time and hassle of starting sweet peas from seed by doing this. The quickest method to enjoy these beautiful flowers outdoors and in vases within your house is to purchase and plant our Sweet Pea seedlings.
Can sweet pea seeds be planted directly in the ground?
Sweet pea seeds should be directly sown into the garden in the fall from September through November in mild winter climates where the ground does not freeze in order to develop robust root systems and bloom in the spring. If you are unable to plant your seeds in the fall, start as soon as spring arrives in a well-drained area that provides some afternoon shade.
In regions with harsh winters, plant about a month before the last date of frost after the worst of the weather has passed. If spring arrives early in your region and becomes hot and muggy, mulch seedlings well and place them where vines will have some afternoon shade.
1. Before planting, you could decide to nick your sweet pea seeds. The seed’s outer layer can be broken off by giving it a quick cut with a nail clipper so it can quickly absorb water. This will result in a higher percentage of your seeds germinating and a few days earlier sprouting.
This is how: Between your thumb and forefinger, hold a seed. Clip your seed by holding the clippers at an angle with the other hand so that you can only utilize the tip of the blade. Not taking a chunk out of the seed is your goal; it is to slice through the brown top coat of the seed. Sometimes the nick you caused is barely visible, and other times a bit of the seed coat cracks off revealing the interior seed’s lighter color. Both are true.
2. Since sweet peas require fertile, well-drained soil, add some aged manure or other finished compost to your garden bed before planting. Work the material into the soil and rake the bed to level it out. Make a furrow with a stick or a tool. Make sure your furrow is 1 inch deep since it’s crucial to plant seeds at the correct depth (for sweet peas, this is 1 inch).
3. When planting your seeds, space them 2-3 inches apart in your furrow. You have a better chance of getting a full bed of plants with no gaps if you sow your sweet peas at this spacing. You will thin your seeds later, when they have grown, to the desired spacing.
4. After sowing, fill in your furrow with earth to cover the seeds. You should only transfer enough soil to fill in the trench without building up a mound above the seeds since you want your seeds to be positioned one depth down.
5. Lightly mist the seeds you covered. To stop the water from washing away the soil, use a watering can or hose with an attachment that diffuses the water so that it showers gently like rain.
Tall sweet peas require a sturdy support in order to ascend. Build one now so that it is there when your seedlings are prepared to begin climbing.
6. You must keep birds, snails, and slugs away from your sweet pea seedlings. In order to prevent these typical predators from discovering your sprouts and eating them before you even realize they are up, you should do this as soon as possible after sowing your seed.
Use netting for birds. Using flexible, black plastic irrigation tubing, often known as polytube and sold at most garden centers, we create our own support hoops. It should be cut into lengths that correspond to the width of your garden beds. To create arches over your sweet pea bed, bury the ends of the cut tubing in the ground. These arches should be covered with bird netting, which should be secured at all edges to prevent openings. Before your sweet peas grow large enough to attach themselves to the netting, remove it.
We choose the product Sluggo for snails and slugs because it is safe for use on people, pets, and wildlife.
7. If you started your seeds indoors, the seedlings must be hardened off before being transplanted into your garden. Hardening off is the process of gradually exposing your plants to the elements they will experience outside, with temperature and direct sunlight being the most important factors. If you don’t, your seedlings can have transplant shock once they are planted in the garden.
When your plants have around 3–4 pairs of leaves, you can begin the hardening off procedure. Place your plants outside where they will receive morning sun in full force and afternoon shade. If you don’t have access to such a place, you will need to relocate your plants every day so that they are in the morning sun and out of the afternoon sun. Move them to a location where they will receive direct sun all day after about 3–4 days. You can move them into your garden in a few more days.
8. We advise deadheading to prolong the blooming period of your sweet pea plants. This entails removing wasted flowers before they have an opportunity to use their energy to produce seeds rather than other blossoms. Deadheading is best done right when the bloom has peaked and is just starting to fade. Cut the entire flower stem off at all times.
9. The blossoming on this plant is completely through. When you can see, the plants begin to slow down and eventually stop flowering altogether as the discarded blooms turn into seedpods. Whether you deadhead or not, all sweet pea plants eventually reach the end of their flowering season. However, you can extend the bloom time by removing spent blossoms.
10. The flowers are, of all, the whole idea of cultivating sweet peas. Remember to cut some and bring them inside; they make lovely, sweet-smelling bouquets. Additionally, the plant will produce more blossoms the more you cut!
Sweet peas can they grow in pots?
It’s simple to grow sweet peas in pots! You may have colorful and fragrant sweet peas all summer long with a few easy tips and tricks!
Sweet peas thrive in containers and pots. They only require excellent soil, sunlight, water, and a climbing structure. After that, relax and watch your sweet peas, which have a lovely aroma, develop and prosper.
Easy to grow!
I’m a huge fan of sweet pea flowers. There may not be a flower with a more exquisite aroma, and their petals are so lovely and fragile. Since sweet peas are fortunately fairly simple to grow, I make sure to have a lot of them in my garden during the summer. Actually, you can have blooms well into the fall if you’re fortunate and the weather is nice.
Grow Sweet Peas in Pots!
My yard used to receive a lot of sun when we first moved into our house over 15 years ago, making planting sweet peas relatively simple. I used to plant them in a row along the back fence, but as our trees have grown, the location is now shady and no longer ideal for growing sweet peas. I now cultivate them in containers. I plant sweet peas exclusively in approximately 5 pots since I adore them so much.
Great for limited space!
You do not need acres of land to appreciate a garden, as I have come to realize over the years. You can grow plants if you have a balcony, patio, or small urban yard. Don’t let a lack of room prevent you from growing most plants because they thrive well in pots. In my teeny, small urban yard this summer, I actually planted a cut flower garden, and I loved it SO SO much. I’m going to plant more flowers this year!
Tips for Growing Sweet Peas:
I’ve learned a few things about cultivating sweet peas over the years, so I thought I’d share some advice I’ve received.
Look for dwarf or short kinds that don’t grow much taller than 2 feet. They are also referred to as bush sweet peas.
Actually, this is a matter of taste. As soon as the snow melts in the early spring, many people will sow sweet pea seeds immediately into their gardens, which is a fantastic time because the soil is damp enough to soften the seeds. I will occasionally do this, but I frequently forget to get them out in time, so I will soak the seeds first. This involves giving the seeds a 24-hour soak in water before planting them in the ground. The seed coat will become softer as a result, hastening the sprouting process.
Any pot or container you use should be at least 6 inches deep. The deeper the container, the better because sweet peas like to spread their roots out.
To ensure proper drainage, check the pots and containers you use for your sweet peas. Sweet peas dislike to stay submerged in water.
Use high-quality potting soil since sweet peas prefer rich soil. Compost should also be added to it as an amendment.
obey the directions on the package. However, the fundamental guidelines call for planting them 2 inches apart and 1 centimeter deep. Most of the time, I will sow more seeds than is advised in case some of them don’t germinate. Just thin them out if I get too many.
Because sweet peas like to climb, you should always give them something to do so. Sticks can be inserted into pots when utilizing pots so that when the sweet peas grow, their tendrils can cling to the sticks. In my pots, I simply used twigs; you can see them in the image above. A modest trellis or chicken wire are other options.
As they get higher, your sweet peas will require a little help. You may need to assist the tendrils so they will latch onto the stakes or trellis. I’ll use tiny pieces of thread to delicately attach the stems to the support rods.
Sweet peas thrive best when their roots are firmly planted in cold, wet soil and their blossoms are exposed to the sun. Consider adding some mulch to the pot once the plants have sprouted to maintain the health of their roots.
Sweet peas don’t actually require a lot of fertilization. Contrary to popular belief, sweet peas do not enjoy nitrogen as much as peas do. My sweet pea plants don’t get much fertilizer from me.
Keep your sweet peas well-hydrated without drowning them. They dislike getting too dry or damp.
It’s always so difficult to do this, but as soon as your sweet peas begin to grow, you need to pinch them back to encourage side shoots, which will produce strong, bushy plants. Simply use your fingers to pinch off the stem’s top just above a group of leaves to do this. I know it’s difficult, but your sweet peas will benefit from it.
Eliminate old seedpods and blooms. Doing this frequently promotes new growth, so be sure to do it!
If you’re anything like me, you grow sweet peas in order to harvest the flowers and bring them inside. The scent of them in the summer I just can’t get enough of. The good news is that when you select more blooms, more will grow as a result.
I hope this encourages you to plant sweet peas as well! You can have an abundance of lovely blooms all year long with a little care!