With their fragile, 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.
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.
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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!
Growing sweetpeas
As a child I remember eating sweet pea pods from a hedge around a neighbour's garden - they were delicious! I would love to grow plants for my grandchildren to enjoy as I am trying to encourage them to enjoy gardening and the magic of growing things for themselves ... now I read that the sweetpea pods are poisonous?? I find that rather alarming so just want confirmation ... is this really true? I certainly survived the experience without any after effects ... please clarify for me.
sweet but poisonous peas
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), the flowering plant such as pictured above, are poisonous.
Sweet peas (Pisum sativum) the vegetable, which also send up flowers before the pods (that eventually contain the vegetables), are not poisonous. You are probably remembering eating the vegetables. Click here for more information about the choices of those and recommendations for planting: http://www.almanac.com/plant/peas It’s time to plant your peas!
sweet pea planting
I live in the foothills above Sacramento, Sunset Garden zone 9. We have had an extremely wet winter/spring. Is it too late for me to plant sweet peas? Is it best to plant directly in the soil, or should I transplant from pots? These are my favorite flower!
growing sweet peas
Yes, it’s too late to plant sweet peas in your zone. As stated above, you plant sweet peas in late winter or early spring, well before frost. In zone 9, however, gardeners plant sweet peas even earlier in mid-fall to maximize winter and spring flowering. Sweet peas need cold temperatures for a good start and they like cold nights, too. Sweet peas do best when direct seeded in the garden in prepared soil. Give them deep, rich, loamy, moist but well-drained soil. Add plenty of organic matter (compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mold, or humus) to enrich the soil. Ensure they have a site with sun to partial sun.
Fearing I killed my sweet pea seedlings
Thank you for this service and for a great website with lots of wonderful flower information. For 6 weeks, I have nursed along many sweet pea seedlings in my Iowa (z5) location and was planning to plant them outside in mid-March. Last week, I started hardening them off on my screened porch for increasing hours each day while watching the weather and temps for the week ahead. Thinking I was going to plant them out tomorrow, two nights ago, I covered them with blankets on my porch all night long, but it was very cold (12 degrees). I thought they had been hardened and were covered properly, but the dirt in their peat pots was frozen hard the next morning. Now, two days later, they seem very limp and there is some yellowing on the edges of the leaves. Do you think I froze them to death, or do you think they will spring back as it gets warmer? Thanks in advance.
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