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.
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The difference is you live in
The difference is you live in Canada, where it is cooler. The person before you said she lived in zone 7. Big difference in temperature.
I live in Canada in Southern
I live in Canada in Southern Ontario and this summer has been cool and damp.My sweet peas are at the south side but did not bloom at all.Lots of growth but not one flower. They have been up since June and it is now Sept.This is the first time I have planted them in a long time and I never had a problem before.I am blaming the seeds.They were not cheap ones either.I''m going to rip them out. What would make them not flower?
more info please on the
more info please on the short, non-climbing variety, like 'Bijou'. Especially stuff like depth of trench, depth of roots, and soil mix.
Hi, Leslie, This is an ideal
Hi, Leslie,
This is an ideal plant for windowboxes and other containers, as well as in ground, so it is relatively shallow rooted. If starting seeds in starter container, push the seeds about 2.5 cm (just under an inch) below the level of seed-starter compost. Transpolant when the roots fill the containters.
If starting in soil in ground, push the seeds 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) into the compost.
A trench would be the same (shallow) depth.
Planted my peas only to have
Planted my peas only to have found what I think are baby millipedes in the soil all over my p-patch. Dug up peas because they didn't sprout and found them covered with these millipedes. Ew. Suggestions on how to regain control over my soil?
Millepedes are drawn to wet
Millepedes are drawn to wet moist soil and usually not harmful. They are beneficial since they convert organic matter into plant food. If you have an investation of them we suggest that you plant the peas in a different drier spot.
I have been growing SweetPeas
I have been growing SweetPeas since (1950).
I suggest that the ground be dug very deep (several feet) and replaced with good soil (after adding some fertilizer).
Prune to inhibit outgrowths. This will ensure fine very large flowers.
Hi, Stanley, Thanks for your
Hi, Stanley, Thanks for your comment.
It sounds like you have found a solution for rotating: instead of changing the location, you change the soil! Always good to have options available. Thanks for yours!
I live in uk London with wife
I live in uk London with wife , daughter and son.
would like to know which month of the year to sow peas.
Hi, I started my sweet peas
Hi, I started my sweet peas indoors, as I'm in Zone 7 (I believe...BC Canada) and they've sprouted and are growing! but they have no leaves. Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my flowers if the stem keeps growing, but hasn't grown any leaves? Thanks for your help and insight!!
The leaves will come. We
The leaves will come. We recommend to plant peas directly in the ground. Pea seedlings are sometimes hard to transplant.
It is April 2nd and I'm in
It is April 2nd and I'm in Houston,Tx. My sweet neighbor just gave me 2 different kinds of sweet pea seeds which she was already soaking...is it to late to plant? After reading your posted advice about their habits I fear it is already to warm here...what do you think? By the time they bloom,if I'm lucky,it will be mid June and very hot. Since they have already been through the soaking process I don't know if the seeds can be dried out again and saved till next year,if so what month should I plant them next year? Thank you for your help..I would love to be successful in this planting.
In Texas, sweet peas are
In Texas, sweet peas are usually planted in the fall for spring bloom. If planted in spring, it should be very early. However, since the seeds have already been soaked, it would probably be best to go ahead and plant them, although they may not be happy when it gets warmer. The best you can probably do is to set them out in an area that gets shade in the afternoon. Place in well-drained soil and water regularly. During hot spells, provide some filtered shade all day. Remove any spent blossoms to encourage the plant to continue blooming.
Thank you for your prompt
Thank you for your prompt reply. This is very encouraging and I am excited by the possibility of success with this lovely flower,I will plant them right away.
My leaves on the sweet pea
My leaves on the sweet pea are yellowing.what do I do.
Yellowing leaves on sweet
Yellowing leaves on sweet peas is often related to overwatering. Water in the morning at the base of the plant, keeping the foliage dry. Ensure your soil drains well. You can add compost to improve drainage. Also, do not use fertilizer.
what time can you plant sweet
what time can you plant sweet peas?
We mention timing above. In
We mention timing above. In milder areas, plant in fall. In colder areas, sow in late March or April.
I know that sweetpeas grow
I know that sweetpeas grow tall but do they need suport? This is my first time planting sweetpeas?
Thanks
Please see the text above for
Please see the text above for information about sweet pea support as well as germination.
it has been 10 days and my
it has been 10 days and my Sweet pea seeds have not sprouted what should I do?
thanks
how often should i water the
how often should i water the sweat-peas
Just keep the soil evenly
Just keep the soil evenly moist. If you put your finger into the soil bed to its first joint and the soil is dry: water them.
Other than pine needles what
Other than pine needles what is good for safely keeping slugs and snails off the plants?
You really want to keep mulch
You really want to keep mulch and any debris away from your plants. Make sure the garden soil that you prepare is well cultivated, bringing up any clods. Protect seedlings with soda bottles (with the bottoms cut out). You can create barriers, however, with rings of cedar, oak bark chips or gravel chips. Pine needles are fine. We like to use egg shells. Anything rough such as sandpaper or builders' sand can work, too. You can use wood ashes, though don't let the ashes touch the plant.
fine bark mulch is the best
fine bark mulch is the best one if you have slug or snail problems.
Natural or garden grade
Natural or garden grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is leathal to slugs and other ground dwelling pests. The DE is like shards of glass to them. It also lasts longer than coffee grounds, although, coffee grounds deter cats as well.
We have a major cat problem.
We have a major cat problem. They us my garden and flower beds as a litter box how do I stop it
Coffee grounds are safe and
Coffee grounds are safe and effecting to keep slugs off your plants. Straight from the can or used grounds sprinkled in a wide circle right up to the plant. I live in a very wet area and it works. If you get a lot of rain you may need to sprinkle several times during the growing season as the grounds will eventually wash away.
we have centipedes eating our
we have centipedes eating our pea plants. any suggestions on ridding them from our plants and garden?
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