Sweet peas are happiest with their heads in the sun and their roots deep in cool, moist soil. When possible, plant low-growing annuals in front of them to shade their roots. Choose a well-drained site.
Beside this, what month do you plant sweet peas?
Sow your sweet peas seeds anytime from October until March, two seeds to a pot. You can sow your sweet pea seeds in March but growing sweet peas over winter will produce stronger, more robust plants.
Beside above, what is the best way to grow sweet peas? Use a good quality compost and sow several sweet pea seeds to a pot. Plant them about 1cm deep, cover with compost and water them well. Sweet peas perform best if their roots are forced to grow in a deep, narrow channel so choose a tall pot to give them a strong start.
Furthermore, do Sweet peas need full sun?
Conditions Sweet peas grow in full sun to partial shade and require rich, well-drained soil. Sweet peas are sometimes troubled by birds, slugs, snails, aphids, and thrips. Propagation New plants should be grown from seed.
When can I plant my sweet peas outside?
You can plant them outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Chances are it will still be quite cold, but the seeds will be fine. Gardeners in the south can start sweet peas in late fall for bloom in late winter or early spring. Check with your cooperative extension for best practice in your area.
12 Related Question Answers Found
Can sweet peas be grown in pots?
Sweet peas thrive in pots. Choose a rich potting compost and mix in loam-based compost to provide extra water retention. Firm in the compost well.
Do Sweet peas come back every year?
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) only live for a year, dying after setting seed. But don’t let this put you off as they are super easy to grow from seed. Perennial species such as Lathyrus latifolius come back year after year, but mostly lack fragrance and there are fewer to choose from.
How long does it take to grow sweet peas from seed?
7 to 15 days
When should you plant out sweet peas?
Seeds can be sown directly into the garden in late April as an alternative. However, when you grow your sweet peas, pinch out the top of seedlings when they reach about 10cm to encourage bushy growth.
Do you cut back everlasting sweet peas?
Perennial sweet peas, yes there are annual varieties, are hardy in zones 4 to 8 and need little help to make it through the winter in these areas. Prune the plants back to the ground in late winter or early spring before growth begins. Prune sweet pea plants with diseased foliage back to the ground in fall.
Can you grow sweet peas from their pods?
If you harvest the sweet pea seedpods before they are completely mature, they won’t germinate. On the other hand, if you wait too long, the brittle seed pods will break open and drop their seeds to the ground. Collecting seeds from sweet peas is easy. Bring the seedpods indoors and remove the seeds from the pods.
How often should I water my sweet peas?
Sweet peas rarely need watering more than once a week, but you need to maintain even moisture throughout the growing season. They do not like hot weather, so water them regularly in the summer, but do it early in the day to prevent buds from dropping, yielding and fewer flowers, and to prevent plants from scorching.
Can you feed sweet peas with tomato feed?
If you do feed, high potash (tomato feeds) are best, as nitrogen feeds encourage too much top growth. If you must water, do so in the morning. Sweet peas can suffer from bud drop – the buds turn yellow before opening, then drop.
Why are there no flowers on my sweet peas?
All they really need is a little compost, and they won’t even need that if you’re growing them in rich soil. If they get too much nitrogen, they produce lush green foliage at the expense of flowers. Lawn fertilizer has a high nitrogen content, so keep it away from your sweet peas.
Should you pinch out sweet peas?
To pinch sweet pea plants, wait until they are 4 to 8 inches high. Pinching out sweet peas will provide you with more blooms for cutting. It’s one of the wonders of growing these delightful vines. The more blooms you cut, the more will grow, so don’t be afraid of pinching out your sweet peas to enjoy the bouquets.
Should I soak sweet pea seeds?
Many people recommend soaking sweet pea seeds overnight before sowing to help them germinate. This is because some varieties have a hard outer shell. However, others suggest that soaking may lead to weaker plants. Generally, sweet peas should germinate fine without any treatment.
Should you soak sweet pea seeds before planting?
In warmer regions (zone 7 and above) where winter weather is relatively mild, sweet peas can be sown in fall. Soak the seeds in water for 8-10 hours before sowing. This softens the seed coat and speeds up the sprouting process. While the seeds are soaking, fill your planting pots with good quality potting soil.