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.
How are pea seedlings supported?
Using items you already own to support pea plants is the most affordable and frequently effective option.
- Small branches that have fallen from forest trees, an old PVC pipe, or any robust wooden stake between 4 and 10 feet long can be used as stakes in the ground (1.2 to 3 m.). Stakes should be placed every few feet behind your peas, and their middles and tops should be covered with a thick cotton rope. The string works well as a support for pea plants. The stakes can have some vines clinging to them.
- Another way to support pea plants is with chicken wire or old farm fencing. Place the fence in a place where peas in growth can easily access it.
- Another method of supporting pea plants uses nylon mesh that is fastened to posts.
- The wooden trellis-like construction is a way to stake peas in the garden, but it might be more durable than other ways to support pea plants. You should plant pea plants in a new location every year, so you might want to utilize a more portable method of staking them in the garden. Plant additional vining crops there when rotating the peas each year if you want a permanent trellis to enhance the appearance of the food garden.
- Peas can be staked in the ground using metal rods in a garden. To support pea plants, a straight, fence-like structure can be built.
- An appealing approach to stake peas in the yard is using a trellis that resembles a teepee. Occasionally, the blooms of pea plants in growth are pretty, so they can serve as an additional way of staking peas in the garden.
What can I do with seedlings of leggy sweet peas?
Place your wigwam frame in a well-lit area where you can easily access flowers.
If planting sweet pea seeds sounds like too much work, you can always get sweet pea plug plants to get a head start. Due to the fact that slugs adore the young, new shoots, set them somewhere bright and keep an eye out for them.
Your seedlings will start to grow tall and lanky as they mature. Pinch out the plant’s tips to induce the production of side branches. Simply use your fingers to cut off the stem’s top just above a group of leaves. Each plant will become much bushier and stronger as a result. Additionally, the plant will produce more blossoms the more shoots there are!
Do seedlings of sweet peas require pinching out?
Sweet peas should be planted in a well-drained but moisture-retentive soil in an open, sunny location. Sweet peas are ideal for container gardening. utilize a compost that is good, peat-free, and has a slow-release fertilizer added in.
How to sow sweet peas
From seeds, sweet peas are simple to grow in the spring or autumn. If you are planting in the fall, make sure you have space for them to grow until spring in a frost-free location.
Sweet pea seeds sprout fairly quickly. However, by nicking the seed coat with a knife and avoiding the “eye” region, you can encourage germination. Either plant seed in trays, root trainers, or 9cm pots (3 to a pot). Place the seed in a cold frame or greenhouse after sowing it in high-quality, peat-free compost.
View Monty Don’s instructional video on how to cultivate sweet peas from seed:
Planting out sweet peas
Once all risk of frost has passed, you can start planting your sweet peas in late May. Put them outside throughout the day and bring them inside at night to harden them off before planting. When young sweet pea plants are around 10 cm tall, pinch out the tips to promote bushy growth.
In the spring, you can purchase sweet pea plug plants. Under a support, such as a wigwam made of bamboo canes, plant them in rich soil. The average sweet pea will reach a height of 2 meters. Until they have a healthy growth, water them well. Don’t worry about separating individual plants; simply space sweet pea plugs or pots about 20 cm apart.
Watch Monty as he demonstrates how to put out store-bought plants while planting sweet peas. Find out the advantages of giving them a nice drink after planting as well as why it is best to plant them out just once the soil has warmed up:
fertilising
Every few weeks, fertilize your sweet pea plants with a normal fertilizer or add comfrey pellets. The best tomato feed is one high in potash. The sweet peas can continue to grow until August if you follow a good watering and feeding schedule.
staking
Sweet pea plants frequently grow to heights of over 1.8 meters (6 feet), thus they require vertical support and a frame to clamber and climb over. The best option is a teepee or arch, which you can either buy ready-made or create yourself.
Tie the young sweet pea plants to the vertical support as they start to grow. It’s crucial to routinely tie in your sweet peas because doing so will encourage faster growth and healthier plants. When they start to run off, repeat this more frequently after the first two times in the first month.
To ensure that they are growing vertically, we typically tie in our sweet peas every seven to ten days, and perhaps even more depending on the season.
deadheading
Your sweet peas need to be deadheaded on a regular basis. Watch for seed pods to develop and cut them off as needed. As a result, the plants are unable to produce seeds, which would otherwise prohibit them from blooming.
You should remove all the curled stems and tendrils, professional gardeners who will be competing in horticulture exhibits will advise you. They connect to flower stems and bend them into curves by drawing energy from the blossoms. If you are cultivating a lot of sweet peas, it takes a lot of work. I make an effort to get rid of any I spot as I select, but I don’t become distracted.
propagating
At the conclusion of the season, if you still have any seed pods, you can harvest the seeds, place them in a labeled envelope, and let them dry for about a month. When ready to plant in the winter, put in a paper bag in a container in the refrigerator. If you grew a variety of plants, the offspring may differ slightly from the parents.