Sweet peas are annuals (as opposed to perennials) meaning that they develop from a seed, grow into a plant, set seed and then die all in one year. The seed that the original plant drops may grow back next year in the same area.
Can sweet peas be grown from seed?
Sweet peas are easy to grow from seed in either autumn or spring. If sowing in autumn ensure you have the room to grow them on in a frost-free place until spring. Sweet pea seeds germinate relatively easily. But you can help activate germination by nicking the seed coat with a knife, avoiding the ‘eye’ area.
How long does it take to grow sweet pea from seed?
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.
How long does it take for sweet peas to flower from seed?
Sweet Peas will start blooming approximately 4 -6 weeks after visible vining. Timing of bloom will depend on whether the plants have been pinched back.
Do sweet peas reseed themselves?
Will sweet peas self-seed? Yes, in warmer climates. If you leave your sweet pea plants to turn to seed in fall, and allow those seed pods to pop open and disperse the seeds, it is absolutely possible for some to self-seed next year.
Do sweet peas grow 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 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 you have to soak sweet pea seeds before planting?
In fact frequently these light coloured flower seeds need neither chipping nor soaking, but unless you know the colour of the sweet pea you are sowing it is better to give them a short soak for a few hours which will do no harm as long as they are patted dry afterwards on tissue paper or kitchen roll.
Can sweet peas be grown 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. Firm in the compost well.
Are sweet peas hard to grow?
Sweet peas are easy to grow. The most important thing: get them in the ground early to take advantage of cool spring weather. All varieties make excellent cut flowers. Sweet pea seeds are about 1/8″, so they’re especially easy to plant.
Why do my sweet peas not flower?
What should you do if your sweet peas grow tall but don’t flower? If your plants aren’t flowering, it could be that they are not getting enough light (they need a minimum of 8 to 10 hours a day, but preferably nearer to 16 hours).
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.
How many pea seeds are in a hole?
2 pea seeds
Another way to make sure you get a good crop is to over-seed a bit: plant 2 pea seeds per hole, 1-2 inches deep. Each seed should be planted 2-3 inches apart. Once the plants emerge, you can thin them (pull a few plants out) so they are 4 inches apart.
Should you cut back sweet peas?
Prune the plants back to the ground in late winter or early spring before growth begins. Prune sweet pea plants with diseased foliage back to the ground in fall. Discard, don’t compost, the leaves and stems of diseased plants to reduce the risk of future disease problems.
How long does sweet pea live?
1. Annual sweet peas: Annual sweet peas complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. Like other annual crops, they germinate, grow, produce seeds, and die within the course of a year. If you want to grow them again, you’ll need to replant new plants in your garden the following year.
What do you do with sweet peas after flowering?
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.
Can sweet peas survive 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.
Do sweet peas need sun or shade?
Make sure you plant the sweet peas outside after the last frost date in your area. Choose a spot in full sun or very light dappled shade with rich, well-drained soil.
Can I grow sweet peas in a hanging basket?
If you have limited space in the garden, flowering sweet peas look fantastic tumbling out of hanging baskets.
Does sweet pea climb?
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.
How deep do you plant sweet pea seeds?
1. To encourage strong and vigorous root growth, sow sweet peas into root trainers or 3 inch pots filled with a mixture of potting compost and 20 per cent sand. Plant a single seed about 1cm deep into each cavity, cover with compost and water. To assist germination, place them in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill.