When to Plant Sweet Pea Pods

Sweet pea plants add color and fragrance to the garden.

The fragrance and flowers of sweet pea plants make them highly desirable. The plants grow from seeds gathered from the pods after the flowers fade. Periods with cooler temperatures offer the best planting times for sweet peas.

Spring Planting

In colder climates, you may start sweet pea seeds indoors in February or March for transplanting into the garden in the spring. By starting the seeds indoors, you get a jump on the growing season and may enjoy the flowers sooner. You may also sow seeds directly into the ground after the danger of frost has passed.

Fall Planting

In the South, sweet pea seeds produce early spring flowers when planted in November or December. In some mild western states, you may sow seeds in August and September to produce flowers in winter and spring.

Processing

Before planting sweet pea seeds, some gardeners nick the hard seed coat with nail clippers or a sharp knife. The nick helps hydrate the seeds, increasing germination. The best soil temperature range for germination is 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Starting Sweet Peas from Seed

Resources

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Sweet Pease are a Classic in English Gardens