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Growing Sweet Peas
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sweet Pea Flowers
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sweet Pea Flowers
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With their seductive fragrance, sweet peas make great flowers for gardens and bouquets. These pea-like flowering annuals grow in many lovely colors and are suitable for a border, a woodland garden, and a trellis or arch. See how to plant and grow sweet peas. Early sowing is one of the secrets to sweet peas!
Cultivated sweet peas go back at least 300 years. In their native Sicily, these ornamental peas have weak stems and an intense orange-jasmine-honey scent. Modern hybrids are stronger-stalked and have larger blooms.
Growing sweet peas is akin to making a pie crust. Some people have the knack, others don’t. Sweet peas are quite hardy, growing from large, easy-to-handle, pea-like seeds. Still, they’re a bit tricky because they are slow to germinate. It’s worth experimenting with different seeds each year.
Planting
How to Plant Sweet Peas
- Early sowing is one of the secrets of sweet peas. In Zone 7 or colder, plant them in very late winter or early spring as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. (Do not wait to sow until last frost.)
- In the coldest parts of the country, get a jump on the season by starting sweet peas indoors in six-packs or Jiffy pots. Harden seedlings off for at least a week, and then set them out into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. If you garden in mild winter climates (Zones 8, 9, or 10), plant sweet peas in the late fall so they can develop and bloom in late winter and early spring.
- 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. Alkaline soil is best; sprinkle some powdered lime on the surface if your soil tends to be acidic.
- Prepare a rich soil by mixing in generous amounts of compost and well-rotted manure to a depth of 2 feet. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
- Prior to planting, you’re going to want to dig a nice deep trench of about 4 inches in depth.
- After you dig the trench, make holes with a pencil, drop in the seeds, and press down on the soil to firm it and shut out any light.
- Before planting, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. Then nick the seeds with a nail file before planting to speed sprouting. You do not need to soak seeds in a temperate climate.
Check out our video on planting and growing sweet peas:
Care
How to Grow Sweet Peas
- Once planted, germination can take 7 to 15 days, depending on the soil temperature.
- As seedlings emerge and grow, gradually fill in the trench. Hoe more soil up to them.
- Keep soil moist. Summer rain may be ample. If you put your finger into the soil bed to its first joint and the soil is dry: water them at the soil level and do so in the morning; sweet peas can suffer from bud drop.
- If you use plenty of aged manure and compost when planting, you do not need to fertilize. If you do want to add nourishment, use high potash feeds, as nitrogen feeds encourage too much top growth.
- Sweet peas prefer cool days and nights and will start to fade when temperatures go above 65°F.
- Except for the bush types, sweet peas are real climbers. Give them at least 6 feet of good support. Some varieties may climb to 9 or 10 feet. If you don’t have a fence or trellis, provide brush or chicken wire or bushy, stubbly twigs that they can cling to.
- When plants become established, mulch well to keep the soil cool and moist. If you mulch, you may not need to water your sweet peas unless the soil gets dry.
- To encourage bushy growth, pinch off the tops when plants are 6 inches tall—not before or you’ll encourage premature side-shoot development.
- Pick the flowers for bouquets often and the plant will put energy into more blooms instead of going to seed. Harvest the stems when the lowest blossom is just beginning to open.
Pests/Diseases
- Slugs and snails may attack young growth.
- Pythium root rot, powdery mildew, rust, gray mold, and various leaf spots are common.
Recommended Varieties
- ‘April in Paris’ is a fragrant modern variety with large creamy-yellow blossoms and lilac shading.
- The deliciously scented ‘America’ is an heirloom, dating to 1896. Its petals unfurl to show stunning wavy red and white stripes.
- Breeders now offer varieties with old-fashioned perfume scents, as well as heat resistance. Look for heirlooms like the ‘Old Spice’ collection from Sicily. This strain blooms in shades of white, cream, pink, lavender, and purple.
Wit & Wisdom
- The sweet pea is an essential member of a late-Victorian garden. Victorians loved sweet peas for their color diversity and fragrance.
- Gather the flowers in the morning when the dew is still on them. This is when their scent is the sweetest.
- Sweet peas are one of the April birth flowers.
“The odor of the sweet pea is so offensive to flies that it will drive them out of a sick-room, though not in the slightest degree disagreeable to the patient.”
–A tip from The 1899 Old Farmer’s Almanac
Sweet Pea
(Delicate Pleasures)
“Here are sweet peas, on tip-toe for a flight:
With wings of gentle flush o’er delicate white,
And taper fingers catching at all things,
To bind them all about with tiny rings.”
–John Keats (1795–1821)
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Reader Comments
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Sun if heat
We are in northern VA, but get a lot of heat during the day in the summer- which I understand sweet peas do not like. I am hoping to put ours in a container. Am I better off putting them where they will be in an area with afternoon shade? Last time we put nasturturiums in the sunny area they were supposed to like they refused to grow, seemed to wilt in the heat and sun.
Sweet peas
Hello,
My sweet peas go like crazy here in PNW and I love them...my question is this...
Should I plant the seeds that I have already gotten from several of my plants at the same time that the plants pods open and drop theirs naturally? I would like to have some growing on my garden arbor. It receives great morning sun up until about noon, then a nice shading from some trees and then dappled light from about 1 pm on to sunset. I have ground cover that I can move outta the way until the shoots are tall enough to reach the bottom of the arbor (about 4 inches above the soil). I'm looking to fill this spot for a June wedding in 2019. Some guidance please....thank you.
when to plant
If you have seen plants come up from the dropped seeds, then it sounds like a good idea. Alternatively, purchase some seeds and start them at the appropriate time.
Newbie Gardener
Hello! Im so happy I came across your site. I live in Tampa, Fl not sure what zone I live in. From what your chart suggested I should start planting in late Jan, is that correct? I dont have alot of natural sunlight on my property. What would you recommend I do? Its mostly shady and the mostly sand not dirt. Im afraid I might not be successful when I do plant them. Any input would greatly be appreciated.
starting out
You will need sunshine as indicated above. Most plants need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. If you get sunshine, you need proper soil. Here’s some information on that: https://www.almanac.com/content/preparing-soil-planting
transplanting wild sweet peas
Hello. I live in Northern Michigan and we have sweet peas in the wild in ditches throughout our county (Montmorency). I stopped on a dirt road this morning and couldn't resist digging up a couple of plants from a ditch to plant along a fenceline in my garden area. My question is are there any special considerations to a successful transplant?
Sweet peas
Im in Vermont - Zone 4.., can i grow sweet peas here? I love the smell.
Sweet pean in VT?
Assuming all else supports them—soil, sun, etc. See the guidance above.
King tut sweet pea
I just received my order of gorgeous blue king tut sweet peas on May 5th should i save them or would it be ok to go ahead and begin to germinate
Sweet Peas for zone 10a
There are some sweet peas small plants available online for now. Can I grow them here in Zone 10a in May?
As I learn from you that in zone 10a we need to wait until Fall, just wonder if it would bloom in Summer if I grow it now. Thank you.
Root Trainers Sweet Peas
I'm growing Sweet Peas in biodegradable root trainers, when planting out in final position would you remove from the root trainer or leave it in place ?
Kind Regards
Sweet Peas
My husband gave me an 8 foot trellis for our anniversary last year and I have been trying to decide what to grow on it. I really don't want to plant another clematis. I am in Southern New Jersey, zone 7 and have full day sun in my garden. My soil is a little on the clay side but I've amended it and had success with peonies and roses. I love sweet peas and wonder if this could be something that could work in my garden?
Growing Sweet Peas
It sounds like you have almost everything you need for growing sweet peas, though you will probably want to mix some compost into your clayey soil to make it drain better. (Check out our page of soil types for more info.) If possible, do a pH test on your soil as well, as sweet peas like it a bit alkaline. They are slow to germinate, so you’ll want to start them fairly soon!
how to care for sweetpeas before winter
hi would i have to do anything to prepare my sweetpeas for winter
Transplanted sweetpeas
Live in central Albert zone 3. Transplanted 8 inch plants bought from a local Greenhouse on June 10th at the bottom of a North to South chain link fence.Planted a row of potatoes in front of them on west side for root shade.Have had some hot days in the 30celceis range with cool nights ,used some ultra bloom.once a week, now have a fence full of color.
sweet peas
My daughter is planning an Oct wedding and would like sweet peas in her bouquet--I have started some indoors, they have just germinated and the seedlings are a few inches tall. It is way too hot here in the Midwest in July for outdoor transplant. Can I keep them indoors near a sunny window till cooler weather in Sept? or can I continue to grow them indoors till they flower? Thankyou
Sweet peas in autumn
This is a tough one. We are inclined to think that sweet peas’ needs are so particular that keeping them indoors for the entire growing period would not give you the results you want. (See specifics above.) You could transplant some in, say, mid-August and some later (and maybe not transplant a few to see how they go indoors). Per above, if you can keep their “feet” cool, you might have success in August. Keep in mind, too that sweet peas like sun, and the days are (already!) getting shorter. We suggest getting the seeds out when you can to give them plants the best chance to mature.
We also suggest that you contact your local cooperative extension service (find your state here and click through: http://www.almanac.com/plant/sweet-peas). They are local experts and may even have experience with your situation.
Transplanting Sweet Peas
I started sweet peas from seed indoors in March. They are now in 4" pots in my window sill and the vines are 4-6" long. I know it's time for a transplant, but I live in Virginia in zone 7 where I am afraid these sweet peas will not survive the outside heat. I was thinking about trying to keep them indoors until the fall but I will need to find something for them to climb, as they are hanging down the edge of the wall now. Any recommendations on what I can do to keep them going until I can get them into the ground when it's cooler?
when to plant sweet peas
Broadly speaking, based on the planting advice above, you would have been safe planting the seeds in the spring, being in Zone 7; of course, micro-climate conditions can put you into a higher zone. But here are a few ideas:
You can transplant them outside in part shade, in well-drained soil (not clay). They like sunshine, but they like cool soil. Organic mulch will help that, but certain mulches can also harbor slugs, especially the coarser materials such as bark mulch or straw. Fine organic matter isn’t as attractive to slugs.
You can also try planting your sweet peas in containers outdoors, using the potting soil etc. that you have. In the heat of the afternoon, provide some shade for them, or wheel them into a shady spot.
Read above about care and pests.
We hope this helps!
mature sweet pea
I have a sweet pea that I moved about 7 years ago from my aunts home...we put it in a spot "temporaily" until we found a better place for it...and its still there! I live in zone 5...when and how can we transplant to another location..so that we can have it grow up instead of lieing on the the ground...thank you!
when to transplant sweet peas
Sweet peas love cool weather; it might be getting too hot for them now. If you’d like to try, however, you can transplant them to a part shade area, in well-drained soil (not clay). They like sunshine, but they like cool soil. Organic mulch will help that, but certain mulches can also harbor slugs, especially the coarser materials such as bark mulch or straw. In the heat of the afternoon, they will need shade. Choose your planting site wisely. Good luck!
Sweet Peas
Is it possible to grow sweet pea in a indoor greenhouse?
growing sweet peas
Yes, you can start sweet pea seeds indoors in a greenhouse. Here in northern climates, we sow mid-April and grow indoors for 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outside.
Washington state is what zone?
I'm in Washington State. What zone am I? When should I start planting my sweet pea seeds so I can get it in Early or late Spring?
I planted mine in March and now they're about 5 ft tall. It probably bloom will July. Any tricks so I can them sooner?
sweet peas
Washington has quite a range—mostly 6am to 8b. So it depends where in Washington. See the Plant Hardiness Map: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
If you planted by the spring equinox in March, you should probably see blooms by the summer equinox in June.
Long Island, NY
I believe I am in zone 7, and I would love to plant sweet peas. Sadly, I think it is too late to get them this year, but perhaps next. What variety will produce large pink or purple flowers on long stems for cutting?
growing sweet peas
If you’re in zone 7 (or south), you could go for fall planting. Sweet Pea-Mammoth is a variety with large flowers on long stems.
sweet peas planted with sugar snap peas
I planted sweet peas next to my sugar snap peas. They are both blooming at the same time. I just learned the sweet peas are poisonous to eat. Should I not eat my sugar snap peas because they might be poisonous from cross pollination with the sweet peas?
Sweet peas turned yellow
I live in Houston,TX. What zone is that? It got cool for a few days. Is it just not possible to grow sweet peas here? Are there other vines that I could plant now?
Plant Hardiness
Hi Laura,
You are in zone 11, which includes all of Texas. In your area, it’s best to plant sweet peas in the fall to develop in the winter. Sweet peas like cool, moist soil and can yellow easily in the heat. Another good vine you could grow now would be summer squash, which can spread out on the ground. The big leaves of squash plants naturally keep the soil beneath cool and help to prevent water evaporation. Learn more about squash growing here: http://www.almanac.com/plant/squash-and-zucchini
We hope this helps!
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