bees.
Companions Sweet peas attract bees and butterflies into the garden. Like other pea family members, they fix nitrogen into the soil and so they benefit a wide range of vegetables such as brassicas, leafy greens like silverbeet and spinach and salads.
Do sweet peas attract pollinators?
Feel free to plant a mix of sweet pea varieties. The colours are extremely attractive in the garden and will attract many pollinator-friendly insects. Sweet peas have been appreciated by gardeners world-wide for hundreds of years. To this day, their appeal hasn’t changed.
Do sweet pea flowers attract butterflies?
Sweet pea shrubs attract bees, butterflies, and birds, making them an excellent choice for wildlife gardens. It grows 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 m.) tall and thrives in sun or shade.
Do sweet peas attract aphids?
Besides mildew, sweet peas are susceptible to aphids and thrips when they’re blooming. These delicate flowers do not respond well to insecticidal soaps. I’ve found that a strong spray of water usually deals with the aphids. Blue sticky traps, when hung among the plants, attract the thrips quite successfully.
Do sweet peas attract deer?
Ornamental sweet peas are not edible like their closely-named vegetable counterparts (Pisum sativum), but they do attract hummingbirds and other pollinators and are deer resistant.
What insects are attracted to sweet peas?
Perennial sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Popular with both bees and butterflies.
Are sweet peas good for wildlife?
Perfect for allotments and wildlife gardens, they’re a favourite with pollinators too. Sweet pea seeds are easy to sow and provide a cost effective way to fill your garden.
How long do sweet pea plants last?
There are annual and perennial types of sweet pea flowers. The annuals, Lathyrus odoratus, are usually highly fragrant climbers that last for one season and have to be sown fresh every year. The perennial or ‘everlasting’ types, Lathyrus latifolius, come back every spring, but most have little to no scent.
Are sweet pea flowers invasive?
In many areas of North America, the perennial sweet pea (L. latifolius) is an invasive problem, clogging open fields and roadsides. It looks pretty until you realize it’s crowding out other plants and acting like a thug.
What month do you plant sweet peas?
when to plant sweet peas. Sow sweet pea seeds between October and April. For best results aim for late October/November or late February/March as temperatures and light levels are less than ideal in midwinter. Sweet peas can also be sown direct into the ground in April or May.
Do sweet peas attract pests?
Sweet peas are glorious flowers, but also attract many pests and are a favourite snack for many.
What animal eats sweet peas?
Small animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and rabbits love to feast on pea plants. If you live in an area where these mammals are common, I would advise you to place a layer of bird mesh over your vegetation for protection.
Does anything eat sweet peas?
Remember that slugs like to eat sweet peas!
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.
Do rabbits eat sweet peas?
Sweet peas are very pretty but they are also poisonous, so if you want pretty climbing flowers, that are completely rabbit safe, the edible kind is a better option.
Do sweet peas repel deer?
Sweet peas are considered to be relatively deer resistant compared to other plants though deer have been known to have a nibble from time to time. This means that while sweet peas are not the deers’ favourite food they will eat them and they do not have any significant deer repellent properties like some plants.
Do slugs like sweet peas?
Slugs find soft, succulent, fleshy foliage and stems particularly delicious. Plants that require a little extra protection include: Sweet peas.
Do bees like sweet pea flower?
If you grow your own veg, try growing some sweet peas alongside your runner beans. Their fragrant, pastel flowers will attract bees and bumblebees, which will then go on to pollinate your vegetables. Sweet peas are also great for cutting and will add colour and fragrance to your home.
What eats sweet pea flowers?
Pests and diseases
The sweet pea plant does suffer from some pests, the most common being aphids.
Do sweet peas have a strong scent?
Many sweet peas are fragrant, but certain cultivars have a particularly intense, rich perfume. Traditionally, it’s the heirloom Grandiflora-type sweet peas that have been grown for fragrance, but don’t discount the Spencer and modern Grandiflora-types.
Should I remove sweet pea pods?
Once your sweet pea plants are in full flower make sure that you dead-head them and remove seed pods as soon as possible to encourage more blooms to be produced.