Description
Sweet peas are climbing plants that carry flower clusters in a wide variety of colors, including red, pink, blue, white and lavender. They are early summer flowers with a long flowering season and are excellent cut flowers. The flowers resemble fringed butterflies while their stems appear to be bent. Fortunately, the stems are strong enough to hold their profuse flowers.
The ancient varieties were selected for their vibrant colors and intense fragrance. There are many modern cultivars on the market that offer sweet peas in almost every color, except yellow, but not all new varieties of peas are fragrant. The size of maturity will depend on the variety you choose to grow, but expect the vines to extend to at least 6 to 8 feet tall.
Unlike other types of this genus, peas are toxic and the seeds should not be ingested by humans or pets.
 |
| source: stpaulsgarwood.com |
Growing Sweet Peas
As annuals, sweet peas can be grown in all USDA hardiness zones, though they do best in climates with relatively cool summers. They thrive in full sun, although in warmer climates they do well in a location that receives partial sun, especially in the heat of the afternoon. In the South, you may have better luck seeding sweet peas in the fall to grow into winter.
Sweet peas prefer rich but well-drained soil. A slightly alkaline soil pH (about 7.5) is ideal for sweet peas.
Sweet peas are usually direct sown. To assist germination, seeds should be scarified by nicking and/or soaking in water for several hours to soften the seed coating. Seed can be started outdoors, as soon as the ground has warmed to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and is not too wet.
You can get a jump start on the season by starting seed indoors, about four to five weeks before your last frost date. They will be easier to transplant if you start them in peat. When you are ready to transplant, pinch any flowers or buds off that may have formed, which will encourage root development. They like cool soil, so a thick layer of mulch around the plants may help sweet peas thrive.
When the plants reach about 3 to 6 inches tall in the garden, pinch the seedlings to encourage strong side shoots. Sweet pea vines have tendrils and will attach themselves to most any type of support that has meshing or strings.
During the growing season, sweet peas require steady, regular feeding and watering. Feed them monthly with a fertilizer high in potassium, such as a tomato fertilizer. Adding a bit of blood meal to the soil is thought to help keep the stems long and suitable for cutting.
Most sweet pea varieties will begin blooming in late spring or early summer. The more you cut the flowers, the most blooms you should get, so don't hesitate to bring some bouquets indoors. Deadhead the spent flowers to encourage continued blooming.
Avoid planting sweet peas in the same location year after year.
 |
| source pic: www.applewoodseed.com |
Great sweet pea varieties to grow
- Lathyrus vernus ‘Alboroseus’ – a hardy perennial bush-forming sweet pea that has tiny pink and white flowers in April. Reaches 35cm in height and spread.
- Lathyrus latifolius ‘White Pearl’ – perennial climber with pure-white flowers from June to late August. Reaches a height of 2m.
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Matucana’ – hardy annual that is hugely popular and fondly known as the old-fashioned sweet pea. It has scented two-tone purple flowers in summer and is ideal for picking.
- Lathyrys odoratus ‘Lipstick’ (pictured) – a wavy-edged, Spencer type with good scent.
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Lord Nelson’ – hardy annual grown for picking. Blue flowers with a highly rated scent in summer. Plants reach 2m.
- Lathyrus odoratus ‘Painted Lady’ – hardy annual grown for picking. Bi-coloured blooms of pale and dark pink. Highly scented old-fashioned type. Great for early flowers.
Insect & Disease Problems
Sweet pea foliage and flowers are occasionally attacked by aphids and slugs. Watch closely and apply diatomaceous earth or other OMRI listed pesticide if aphids are found.
Large irregular holes in foliage and partially eaten seedlings are signs of slug damage. Scatter Sluggo®, an organic iron phosphate bait, around plants to kill slugs and snails without harming people, pets or wildlife.
In wet, cool weather mildew and plant diseases abound. If wilting, spots or rotted tissue are noticed, we recommend the following.
- Avoid overhead watering whenever possible (use soaker hoses or drip irrigation)
- Properly space plants to improve air circulation
- Apply copper spray or sulfur dust to prevent further infection
- Note: Sweet peas are popular with ladybugs and green lacewings. Grow them in and around your vegetable gardens to attract these pest-eating beneficial insects.
The best position
Sweet peas need lots of sun. A sweet pea fan once told me that he always positions his supports in a north/south direction so that they get sun all day long.
