Sweet pea flowers, known for their delicate fragrance and vibrant colors, are a favorite among garden enthusiasts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, growing these beautiful flowers can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. In this updated beginners guide from our last sweet pea post, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of growing the best sweet pea flowers in more detail, from selecting the right varieties to nurturing them to full bloom. Let’s dive in and create a captivating sweet pea garden that will impress everyone!
Here’s What You Need To Grow Sweet Pea Flowers
- Sweet Pea seeds of choice
- Seed starting mix (if sowing indoors)
- Root trainers OR a deep pot (if sowing indoors)
- Compost
- Fish emulsion (for weekly feedings)
- Garden lime (if soil is acidic)
- Tall posts or bamboo stakes
- Tenax Hortonova netting, twine or 6 ft high metal fencing
- Pruning shears
*An important disclaimer, sweet peas are NOT edible!
1. Choosing Your Sweet Pea Variety
When it comes to sweet pea flowers, you’ll find a wide range of varieties to choose from. Some popular and easy-to-grow varieties for beginners include ‘Spencer’ varieties, ‘Cupani’s Original,’ ‘Matucana,’ and ‘Painted Lady.’ These varieties are known for their exceptional fragrance, vibrant colors, and resilience.
2. Prepare The Soil
Sweet pea flowers thrive in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Begin by clearing the planting area of any weeds or debris.
Loosen the soil using a garden fork, incorporating compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and moisture retention. Ensure the soil pH is slightly alkaline, around 7.0-8.0, for optimal growth.
In my area, we tend to be more on the acidic side for soil. Because of this, I add lime into the soil when planting my sweet peas. Just ensure you mix the lime well into the hole as you do not want to burn the roots of your sweet peas.
3. Sowing Sweet Pea Seeds
Sweet peas can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors and transplanted later.
If sowing outdoors, follow these steps:
- Wait until the soil temperature reaches around 50°F (10°C). Sweet peas like cool weather, but cannot stand up to a frost.
- Create shallow trenches about an inch deep and space them 6-8 inches apart.
- Place the seeds about an inch apart and cover them with soil.
- Water gently and keep the soil moist throughout the germination period.
- **In warmer climates where winter weather is rather mild, sow sweet peas in the fall. Everywhere else, sow in late winter/early spring.
If sowing indoors, follow these steps:
- Soak your seeds for 24 hours in either water or milk (yes milk!) This helps to encourage germination through the tough exterior shell. OR you can also nick the hard exterior shell with a knife or nail clippers.
- Use “root trainers“ or find the deepest pots you have to start your sweet pea seeds because they LOVE to grow long roots!
- Be sure to use a seed starting mix when sowing indoors.
- Once the seedlings have reached roughly 4-6 inches in height, pinch off the tops leaving 2-3 leaf nodes. This will encourage your sweet peas to branch from the base and encourage more growth and more blooms!
- Plant seedlings after all danger of frost has passed.
4. Plant Support
Sweet peas are climbers, and they require sturdy support to grow vertically.
Install trellises, bamboo canes, or netting along the planting area to allow the plants to climb.
It’s best to set up the support structure before sowing the seeds to avoid damaging the young plants later on.
5. Watering & Feeding
Sweet peas prefer consistent moisture levels, so regular watering is crucial.
Water deeply once or twice a week, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist. Avoid overhead watering as it may encourage fungal diseases.
Additionally, sweet peas are very heavy feeders! Provide a balanced liquid fertilizer, like fish emulsion, every two weeks during the growing season to promote healthy foliage and abundant blooms.
6. Pruning & Deadheading
To encourage continuous blooming and maintain plant vigor, regular pruning and deadheading are necessary. Pinch off the tips of the young plants when they reach around 4-6 inches tall.
This will promote bushier growth and increase flower production. Remove spent flowers promptly to prevent seed production and divert energy towards new blooms.
Additionally, prune off any developing tendrils you see. This will help the plant focus its energy on growing more flowers!
7. Pests & Diseases
While sweet peas are generally resistant to most pests and diseases, they can occasionally encounter issues such as aphids, slugs, or powdery mildew.
Monitor your plants regularly and take appropriate action if you notice any signs of infestation or disease.
Organic pest control methods like neem oil or introducing beneficial insects can help combat these issues effectively.
8. When To Harvest
The best time to harvest sweet pea flowers is in the morning when the blooms are fully open.
Gently cut the stems just above a set of leaves using sharp scissors or pruners.
Harvesting regularly not only ensures a fresh supply of flowers but also encourages the plant to produce more blooms.
With the right knowledge and a little care, growing beautiful sweet pea flowers can be a rewarding experience for beginners.
Remember to choose the right varieties, prepare the soil well, provide proper support, and maintain regular watering and feeding schedules.
Prune and deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms, and be vigilant against pests and diseases.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be rewarded with an enchanting sweet pea garden, filling the air with their delightful fragrance and captivating everyone who sees them.
Happy gardening!
This post contains some links to some products on Amazon I use in case you are interested! If you end up making a purchase I get a small commission, so thank you kindly!