Sweet peas begin to produce flowers 90 to 120 days after planting seeds, depending on the species and cultivar.
How long do sweet peas 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.
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.
Do sweet peas come again?
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 sweet peas need to be planted every year?
Perennial sweet peas: Perennial sweet peas come back year after year. You do not need to replant them after the growing season ends, and they will continue to grow for a longer period of time.
What happens to sweet peas when finished flowering?
Let the plant go to seed.
When this happens, the flowers will die off and the sweet peas will start to form pods that are full of seeds. Then, you’ll have to wait for the pods to develop and brown before you can pick them.
What to do when sweet peas have finished flowering?
Cut down your sweet peas when they finish flowering, but leave the roots in the ground as they have little nodules on them which will add nitrogen to your soil.
Do sweet peas climb on their own?
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 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.
How do you keep sweet peas from growing too tall?
To pinch sweet pea plants, wait until they are 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20.5 cm.) high. Take the growing tip between your forefinger and thumbnail and snip the growing tip off using your nail as your blade. Pinching out sweet peas will force the plant hormones called auxins to move to the side or auxiliary tips.
Do you only pinch out sweet peas once?
Pinching out is recommended to make the plant bushier and it’ll grow more flowers. Exactly when you do it is up for debate. The packet of seeds I got from Thompson & Morgan – Heirloom Mixed – said to pinch out after two pairs of leaves have opened, and the Sweet Pea Society website (yes, there is one!) says the same.
How long do peas continue to produce?
If you allow the first dozen or two pods to mature and develop seeds, that may exhaust the plant and become your entire harvest; whereas, if you harvest all pods when young, a pea plant may continue to produce consistently for 2 to 3 months or longer.
Do sweet peas survive winter?
Generally, though, sweet peas are classed as half hardy annuals and will be fine in dry frost up to -4°C (25°F). If temperatures do drop below that, you’ll need to protect them with horticultural fleece.
Do sweet peas bloom more than once?
These annuals bloom prolifically when the sun warms them, but with cool outdoor temperatures. Although the sweet pea blooming period is often dictated by its environment, you can use deadheading as a way to encourage even more blossoms during one season.
What month do sweet peas bloom?
Bloom period
If planted in September or October, you should expect the first long-stemmed, fragrant, fluttery blooms to appear as early as March.
Do sweet peas flower twice?
Sweet peas are an annual flower so they are programmed to grow – flower – set seed – and die over a year. Once sweet peas have been flowering for a while they will want to start setting seed so the plants need to be tricked into producing more flowers to extend the flowering season.
Does cutting sweet peas encourage more flowers?
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.
How long do sweet peas keep flowering?
Sweet peas are a summer flowering annual. This means that they germinate, grow, flower, set seed and die all in one year and have to be re-grown each year. Sweet peas are long flowering and provide colour, scent and flowers to pick for months.
Do peas keep producing after picking?
Pods are ready to harvest when they’re well filled. Pick regularly, otherwise the plants will stop producing flowers and pods.
Should I prune my 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.
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.