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 should I indoor-sow my sweet pea seeds?
In regions with warm winters, you can start seedlings inside in late January. (For the following year, prepare to immediately plant the seeds in the garden in the fall; they will develop throughout the winter into roots and bloom early in the spring.) Sweet peas should be planted inside about six weeks before the anticipated last frost date in areas with cold winters. Les Brake, an Alaskan gardener, offers tips on growing sweet peas. As soon as the soil can be worked in any location, transplants can be placed outside. Light frost won’t harm sweet peas. The majority prefer cool weather, while certain species, such the heirloom Lathyrus matucana, can tolerate mild heat. Since sweet peas often bloom in the spring, you should plant them as soon as you can. Lathyrus belinensis is a plant that blooms later and has interesting coloration.
Sweet peas should be sown in containers indoors:
Use a sharp knife to make a small cut in the tough outer shell of the seed coat. The seed will sprout more quickly as a result.
Fresh seed-starting mix should be poured into four-inch plastic pots or pots made of biodegradable materials (such as newspaper or Cowpots) and properly dampened. With your finger, a dibber, a pencil, or something similar, make a 1-inch-deep hole, then place one to three seeds within. Add extra mixture on top.
If more than one seed sprouts, cut off any more seedlings at the soil line so that each container only contains one plant. The seedlings should be grown in a sunny area, such as next to a window that faces south or on a light stand. The tops of the seedlings should remain 6 inches away from the bulbs if artificial lighting is being used.
Pinch or prune seedlings when they have four sets of leaves, right above the third set. The plant will become bushier and more branched as a result of this.
Before transferring seedlings outside, harden them off by gradually exposing them to sunlight and open air over the course of a week or so, leaving them out for a little bit longer each day. Put them on a soil that drains well and is rich. When moving plants, take care not to harm their roots. Squeeze the pot’s walls to help the root ball slip out. Handle the plants by their leaves and hold the entire root ball in your palm. You can simply plant the entire container in the ground if you used peat pots or anything similar.
Seedlings should be planted 6 inches apart and at the same depth as they were in their pots. Use a watering can with a rosehead to water softly. Sweet peas are annual climbing flowers. Give your sweet peas something to grow on, like a lattice, a twine frame, or netting with holes that are at least 2 inches square.