The plants reach 3 to 8 feet tall and a spread of 2 to 3 feet. The Missouri Botanical Garden reports that without something to climb, sweet peas grow into low and bushy 2 1/2-foot-tall mounds. Perennial sweet peas have a similar growth pattern, with vines growing up to 10 feet tall.
How tall should my sweet peas be?
Most sweet peas will grow to about 2m in height. Water in well until they’ve put on good growth. Space sweet pea plugs or pots about 20cm apart – don’t worry about separating individual plants.
How long does Sweet Pea take to bloom?
Sweet peas will need about 50 days of cool temperatures (under 60º F) to bloom gloriously in your garden. Sweet pea seed has a hard, water insoluble seed coat. There is no evidence that soaking sweet peas will increase germination.
How tall should sweet peas be before pinching out?
Once plants are 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) tall, pinch out the central growing tip, just above a leaf joint, leaving just 2 or 3 leaf nodes. This will encourage the plant to branch vigorously from the base. Sweet peas are heavy feeders.
How do I get more flowers on my sweet peas?
Sweet Peas will grow and flower faster as the days get longer in spring and early summer. Using compost or dried aged manure will help provide nutrients to produce large abundant flowers. A fertilizer with higher phosphorus than nitrogen can boost flower production as well.
What month do sweet peas flower?
when are sweet peas in season? The main flowering season for sweet peas is June and July but they can start earlier or go on later, depending on when you sowed and planted them . Keep watering, feeding and deadheading to prolong their season.
Do sweet peas have to climb?
Sweet peas are climbing plants and need some support as they grow. Most people use garden canes, trellis, wigwams, and obelisks. You can also buy (or make) sweet pea rings or simple wire supports, especially up against a wall. Sweet pea plants wind tendrils around the supports so they shouldn’t need tying in.
Why do my sweet peas have no flowers?
The reason your sweet peas are not blooming is often because of lack of sun, high temperatures or too much fertilizer. Sweet peas are native to the Mediterranean and flower best in full sun, medium to low nutrient soil with regular watering. Heat waves can also temporarily prevent blooming.
Do sweet peas bloom the first year?
Sweetpea Flower Times
Annual sweet peas are grown from seeds at the beginning of each growing season. After germination, the seedlings develop into bushy plants before producing buds and flowers. The time between planting seeds and flowering is generally three to four months.
Do sweet peas come back every year?
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) only live for a year, dying after setting seed. But don’t let this put you off as they are super easy to grow from seed. Perennial species such as Lathyrus latifolius come back year after year, but mostly lack fragrance and there are fewer to choose from.
What happens if you dont pinch out sweet peas?
Pinching out sweet peas is not required, but many gardeners choose to do so in order to keep sweet peas short and bushy. Others choose to pinch back sweet peas to stimulate the growth of numerous flower buds. Keep in mind that sweet peas are vining plants and can reach 6 to 9 feet tall.
Does cutting sweet peas make them flower more?
As the flowers open keep cutting; this stimulates further flower production. Never leave seeds to develop on the plants. Remember that sweet peas are annuals. If seeds develop they tell the plant that its work is done and the plant starts to die back.
Should tendrils be removed from sweet peas?
Remove the tendrils
The tendrils are used for climbing, and will wrap around anything for support. As we tie our sweet peas to canes, we remove the tendrils so they can’t wrap around the flower stems and bend them.
What triggers flowering in peas?
Pea plants need sufficient light in order to develop flowers, so make sure your plants are located in a spot where they’ll get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Can sweet peas grow in pots?
Sweet Peas grow beautifully in pots and containers. All they need are great soil, sunshine, water and something to climb. Then sit back and wait for your beautifully scented sweet peas to grow and flourish.
Can I plant sweet peas out in April?
Plant out your seedlings in March and April in a sunny position. Sweet peas like well drained soil but as they are such hungry plants it’s a good idea to enrich your soil, by incorporating manure or garden compost.
How tall should a sweet pea trellis be?
Except for the bush types, sweet peas are real climbers. Give them at least 6 feet of good support. Some varieties may climb to 9 or 10 feet.
Do sweet peas need a trellis?
Sweet peas are climbers, and need some sort of support around which they can wrap their tendrils. They can climb a fence, trellis or even strings. Dwarf cultivars need no support.
What trellis is best for sweet peas?
Trellises for peas and sweet peas can be simply made from stakes and thick twine. You can also use chicken wire or fencing wire, but the easiest support to make is firmly attached twine.
Can sweet peas grow in a hanging basket?
If you have limited space in the garden, flowering sweet peas look fantastic tumbling out of hanging baskets.
Should I remove sweet pea pods?
Begin saving seeds from sweet peas after the shells turn brown and brittle. If you harvest the sweet pea seedpods before they are completely mature, they won’t germinate. On the other hand, if you wait too long, the brittle seed pods will break open and drop their seeds to the ground.