A woman with a basket standing in front of a wall of sweet peas and reaching up to smell one of the flowers

How to grow Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas flourish in cooler weather and should be sowed early in the season. They are adored by hummingbirds and butterflies and form a stunningly fragrant wall of blooms. With their nostalgic charm, they often evoke memories of grandma's garden, making them one of the most sentimental flowers.

 

Details:

Plant type: annual, can re-seed

Height: 6-8 feet

Site: full sun

Days to maturity: 75-90 days

Plant spacing: 6-8”

*Please note: Unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds are poisonous if ingested. Use caution around children and pets.*

Approx seeds per packet: 10

How to Grow:

Direct Seed: Sow 1/4- 1/2" deep.  Darkness is required for germination.  In mild areas seeds can be directly sown into the ground in the fall and left to overwinter.  Everywhere else, sow seeds 6 weeks before the last frost date.  Seedlings won't be damaged by light frost. In dry climates keep the soil moist to encourage germination.

Transplant: Sow 1/4- 1/2" deep into extra deep pots or root trainers. Sweet Peas have long roots which do not like to be disturbed. Plant out up to 6 weeks before last frost date. 

Germination: 14-21 days at 55-65°F (13-18°C)

Where to plant:

Sweet Peas like cool soil and mostly sun, once they are growing you can plant little violas at their base to shield the soil from the sun. 

Harvesting/Vase Life:

Pick flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. Once  the flowers turn to a seed pod the plant will stop producing blooms. Once the pod turns a brown color you can collect the seeds and save them for next year!

For the longest vase life, pick when there are at least 2 unopened flowers at the tip. Vase life will be shorter when picked more open. Sweet peas are a short-lived cut flower, lasting at best 4-5 days in a vase. Adding a source of sugar or flower food to the water will extend vase life a few additional days. Tip: Cut the entire stem to get more stem length!

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