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.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

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.

[bridecar]

on 9/14/2007 Information here states that sweet peas are annuals, yet I see established vines of them each year at certain homes year after year. Are there perennial sweet peas also?

on 11/22/2005 If you pinch out the second set of leaves on the young seedlings, you will encourage stronger growth and stronger stems. It looks healthy and they need less support.

on 11/22/2005 It helps to plant small plants at the base to protect roots and keep the moisture int.

on 11/22/2005 In addition to planting in the spring, sweet peas may be planted in August and September in California for winter bloom. Spencer varieties are used for this time of year.