How to Grow Sweet Pea (Lathyrus Odoratus)

The heady scent of sweet peas is an old-time favorite. This annual (grows just one year) vine is easy to start from seed - in fact, you probably won't find established seedlings in nurseries. Sweet peas are wonderful when trained up the supports of a porch or the railings of a deck, where their perfume will be best appreciated. They're also a popular cut flower.

Things You'll Need

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Mulch
• Plants

Instructions

1. Choose a site in full sun with rich, well-drained soil.

2. Soak sweet pea seeds in warm water for 2 to 6 hours before planting.

3. Plant seeds in early spring, as soon as the soil has thawed thoroughly. Soil temperatures and moisture levels vary widely at this time of year - if you don't see any seedlings after a week or so, replant.

4. Once seeds have germinated, thin plants so that they stand 6 to 12 inches apart.

5. Provide support for your sweet peas to climb (unless they're the dwarf, bushy types that need no support) - they can grow up to 8 feet tall. Good support candidates include netting, trellises, arbors, fences and string supports.

6. Keep soil evenly moist. Mulching is a good idea.

7. Trim or pinch faded flowers to promote longer blooming.

8. Fertilize every two to four weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Sweet peas are heavy feeders.

9. Tear out and discard plants after heat arrives and they begin to look ratty.

Tips & Warnings

• Blooming in pinks, blues, lavenders and creams, sweet peas thrive in cool weather and die out when temperatures regularly top 80 degrees F.

• Look for varieties that say they're heat-tolerant - they'll bloom longer before summer's heat hits.

• Not all sweet peas are fragrant; choose varieties that specify fragrance.