Sweet pea
Sweet pea attracts enthusiasts
The beautiful flowers have historically attracted many enthusiasts who have experimented with new varieties of sweet pea. Today there is therefore a great variety in color and height. The smallest sweet peas are only 20 cm tall, while really tall varieties can reach around 3 m in height.
One of the first enthusiasts of the sweet pea was Francisko Cupani. At the end of the 17th century, he managed a monastery garden in Sicily. As he developed new varieties of sweet pea, he sent seeds to growers in Europe. Scotsman Henry Eckford was another sweet pea enthusiast. He developed varieties with extra large flowers.
Direct sowing or pre-planting sweet peas
You can direct sow sweet peas outdoors. Wait until the risk of frost is over and the soil temperature is at least 12 degrees. Keep about 10 cm between plants and thin out to a distance of about 20 cm.
To get earlier flowering, we usually choose to pre-plant. A good time to sow indoors is Feb-April, depending on the growing zone. Calculate the sowing to be 5-7 weeks before the plants go out into the country.
Like many seeds, sweet pea germinates a little faster if it is soaked. But 2-3 hours is enough to soften the peas. If they are left in water for too long, there is a risk of them becoming moldy.
The roots of sweet peas are a bit delicate. We find it easy to propagate in empty toilet paper rolls. We cut a couple of notches at one end and fold them into a simple base. Then we primed it with planting soil and sowed soil in the upper third. This way, the sweet peas get a nutrient boost when the plant is big enough to need it. It is also possible to sow in ordinary pots or to sow broadly in a cultivation tray. The important thing is that the roots have some depth to develop.
Place the seeds about 1 cm deep. Place the seeds at room temperature. Once the sweet peas have emerged, they like to stay cool but bright. Plant lighting is good for avoiding lanky plants, especially when sowing early in the year.
Cuttings of topped sweet peas
When the sweet peas have developed two or three pairs of leaves, it is time to cut them off. The plant will then branch out. We usually cut the stems one more time before transplanting to prevent the plants from becoming gangly. If the cut part has at least two pairs of leaves, it can be planted as cuttings. In this case, cut off the bottom pair of leaves so that roots can form from there.
Plant support for sweet pea
Sweet pea is a climbing plant and needs support. A fence, wall, trellis or pergola are good options. It is also easy to make your own round of long twigs that are stuck into the soil in a circular shape. If you grow sweet peas on the balcony, a short side can be covered with chicken wire. Towards midsummer, the plant supports are covered with both foliage and flowers.
Sweet peas like regular nourishment. Fertilizer should be applied every two weeks. As always, nettle water, gold water and cover crops with grass clippings are excellent for pampering the plants.
Then just pick flowers to your heart’s content! Preferably early in the morning before the sun starts to set. Then the fragrant bouquets will keep better.
Author: Johanna Damm
Reviewed by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14