How to Plant Sweet Pea Flower Seeds
Plant sweet pea seeds in the early spring, when temperatures are still cool, as soon as the ground can be worked. Sweet peas need to be established and blooming before summer heat begins. In southern and coastal climates, sweet peas can be planted in the fall and allowed to overwinter. Although tops of plants may appear to die off, vigorous growth will resume in the spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Sweet pea seeds
- Compost
- Peat moss
- Water
- Nail file or other pointed object
- Wire fence or other support (recommended)
Instructions
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Choose a location where sweet pea plants will receive full sun to light shade. Sweet Peas have thin stems that require some type of support, as well. A wire fence, bamboo canes, or lattice trellises work well, as the tendrils cannot wrap around thick posts or supports.
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2
Dig a trench 1 to 1 ½ feet deep and equally wide.
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Mix 1 part peat moss and 1 part compost with 2 parts soil. This creates a well drained soil that is rich in nutrients that sweet peas need to thrive. Sweet peas do well in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, so add lime to soils with high acidity.
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Backfill the trench with the soil mixture.
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5
Soak large seeds in water for several hours prior to planting. More moisture will be absorbed, if surfaces are nicked with a nail file or other pointed object.
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6
Plant seeds ½ inch deep, about 6 inches apart.
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7
Mulch seedlings when they appear, to keep the roots cool.
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References
- Photo Credit sweet pea image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
