Patio sweet peas work well when grown in containers and hanging baskets without other plants to create a delightful and eyecatchihg display. Alternatively, they can be grown with other plants where they will wind their way up the stems to create spectacular effects.
Can you grow peas in a hanging basket?
Peas grown in the ground need a support structure like this one, but if you plant them in a hanging basket, they will grow downwards and don’t require support. A dwarf variety or snow pea will do best in a hanging container. You should hang the basket in a sunny location and watch your peas thrive!
How deep do containers need to be for sweet peas?
6 inches deep
Make sure what ever pot or container you are using is at least 6 inches deep. Sweet peas like to stretch out their roots, so the deeper the pot, the better. And use pots with great drainage. Make sure that the pots and containers you use for your Sweet Peas, have adequate drainage.
Do sweet peas do well in pots?
Sweet peas thrive in pots. Choose a rich peat free potting compost and mix in loam-based compost to provide extra water retention.
How tall should Supports be for sweet peas?
Sweet pea plants need vertical support and will need a frame to clamber and climb over as they often reach over 1.8m (6ft) tall. A teepee or arch is ideal and you can buy these ready made or make these yourself.
Do I need a trellis for sweet peas?
Because Sweet Peas are vining, they need support to grow up and flower. Many types of structures can work such as a trellis, supports with mesh or twine, or fences. They need a structure that is well anchored in the ground to support the weight of the vines.
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 is the best way to grow sweet peas?
Plant sweet peas in an open, sunny position in a well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Sweet peas are well suited to growing in pots – make sure you use a good, peat-free compost with a slow-release fertiliser mixed in.
Do sweet peas have deep roots?
Sweet peas produce long, tap roots which want to go deep. If the seed is sown in normal cell trays the roots are restricted and form tight mats in the bottom of the cells. These can fail to develop further when the plants are in the ground.
What is the best way to trellis 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.
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.
How long do sweet peas last?
4 to 5 days
While they can be picked when more open, their vase life won’t be quite as long. Sweet peas are a short-lived cut flower, lasting at best 4 to 5 days in a vase. Adding sugar or flower preservative to the water makes a big difference and will add a few extra days.
What feed do you give sweet peas?
I like to feed mine regularly with organic liquid seaweed feed, or comfrey would work equally well too. In dry weather water them regularly to keep them healthy, and once they start flowering, daily cuttings will help you get the best out of your sweet peas.
How do you train sweet peas to climb?
Sweet peas climb by twining their tendrils around the support frame, but it’s helpful to guide them using sweet pea support rings. Keep an eye on your plants as they start to gallop away and keep tying them in as they grow. You’ll need to do this every 7-10 days through the entire growing season.
What month do sweet peas flower?
One of the never ending discussions in gardening is whether to sow sweet pea seed in autumn or wait until the spring. The point of autumn sowing is that it gives plants a head start, so you should have a strong plant by March, which delivers earlier flowers than a spring-sown pea.
What happens if you dont trellis peas?
Growing Peas Without a Trellis
If the vines tip over, they can easily break their stem causing them to wither and die or lay on the ground where mould and fungi thrive and rodents can easily reach the peas.
Will sweet peas climb string?
Once the sweet pea reaches the string it will probably start climbing up of it’s own accord. If they flop, grab the string just above the growing stem and twist it gently around.
How tall do sweet peas get before they flower?
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.
Can sweet peas survive the winter?
Sweet peas are a hardy annual, which means they will tolerate cold, even a light frost below if freezing. They are tougher than they look and will take a regular frost down to around -4.
How do you overwinter sweet peas?
Autumn-sown sweet peas should be kept in their cold frame or greenhouse to overwinter. While you don’t want to mollycoddle seedlings too much (cool temperatures will keep plants stocky and sturdy) they won’t appreciate being repeatedly frozen, so add extra protection in frosty weather.
How tall do sweet peas grow?
Vines that climb by wrapping their tendrils around supports
Vine-type sweet peas are 5 to 6 feet tall in most cases but can reach 8 or 10 feet in mild, coastal climates. They’re perfect for screens and backdrops as long as they are given a tall support, such as stakes, string, netting or fencing.