These flowering annuals are climbing or trailing plants that can grow up to 8 feet tall on a trellis or other structure, according to Missouri Botanical Garden. Dwarf sweet pea varieties are well-suited for growing in hanging baskets, from which their trailing vines cascade.
Should you cut back sweet peas?
Cut perennial Lathyrus back to ground level in autumn or, preferably, leave the cutting back until February so the dead stems provide cover for wildlife in winter. Simply pull out and compost annual sweet peas once flowering has finished at the end of summer. In hot, dry seasons this might be a bit sooner.
Can sweet peas go in a hanging basket?
If you have limited space in the garden, flowering sweet peas look fantastic tumbling out of hanging baskets.
Should pods be removed from sweet peas?
It is very important to deadhead your sweet peas. Look out for seed pods developing and snip them off regularly. This prevents the plants forming seed, which would stop the plants producing flowers.
How do you make sweet pea plants bushy?
When plants are 10cm tall, pinch out the tips to encourage bushy growth. Plant out in mid-spring and keep well watered. Most varieties have tendrils that will ‘self-cling’ to supports, but some sweet peas will need tying in.
Does cutting sweet peas encourage more flowers?
Sweet peas tend to produce seed after the first flush of flowers; once the stem lengths start to shorten; and the weather becomes hotter. By cutting off the flowers and deadheads it will encourage the plant to produce more flowers.
Should tendrils be removed from sweet peas?
Cutting off the tendrils is not essential, but it does prevent them from getting tangled up with their neighbours and the flower stems. Tendrils wrapped around flower stems result in bent and curly stems that are useless for cutting.
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.
What is a good trailing plant?
1. Calibrachoa, or Million Bells, is one of the hardest working trailing flowering plants that exist. Calibrachoa comes in what must be nearly a million different colors. It flowers all summer profusely, doesn’t require deadheading, and makes a beautiful cascade over the sides of pots and planters.
How tall do sweet pea plants get?
Sweet peas come in a huge array of colors and patterns. Most will grow to 5 or 6 feet, but there are shorter varieties “bush type” that are well-suited to containers. To extend the blooming season, choose a few different types.
Is it too late to pinch out sweet peas?
To pinch out wait until sweet peas have grown to between four and eight inches high.
Do sweet peas grow back every year?
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.
Can I save my leggy sweet peas?
If you find yourself with leggy growth, nip out the top two leaves when you have four or more true leaves, to encourage bushy growth. When the risk of frost has passed, they’re ready to plant out: a sunny day in late March for those down south, sometime in April for those farther north.
How do you keep sweet peas from growing leggy?
As your seedlings grow they’ll start to become tall and leggy. Encourage them to produce side shoots by pinching out the tips of the plant. Simply nip off the top of the stem with your fingers, just above a set of leaves. This will make each plant much bushier and more robust.
Why are my sweet peas healthy but 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 all summer?
Perennial sweet peas (Lathyrus latifolius) are not fragrant but persist year to year in USDA zones 3–8, and flower in mild weather from spring to fall, as they do not require a specific day length to begin flowering.
Why are the stems on my sweet peas so short?
As side shoots develop they spread the energy, which may result in shorter stems and a smaller number of flowers. Having planted the sweet peas out in late April / May they will start flowering in late May / early June. We check the plants twice a week, continuing to remove side shoots and tendrils as they develop.
Why are my sweet peas only flowering at the top?
Are you fertilizing them right? All they really need is a little compost, and they won’t even need that if you’re growing them in rich soil. If they get too much nitrogen, they produce lush green foliage at the expense of flowers. Phosphorus, on the other hand, encourages flowers.
Will sweet peas climb a fence?
Sweet peas develop curly tendrils that allow them to climb up fences and trellises, creating a magical feel. They are easy to grow in many climates with adequate preparation for the growing season.
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.
Do peas need to be staked?
Peas need staking or a trellis for support as they grow. If you want ‘fast food’: Choose snow peas because you don’t have to wait for the pods to fill. A great choice for kids and impatient gardeners!