Want to add some bright colors and grapelike fragrance to your garden this summer? We recommend that you consider planting peas! This lovely flower is so simple to grow if you follow some simple guidelines. Plus, there are so many varieties to produce, from the fragrant heritage to the modern types in bright and beautiful colors.
Sweet peas are one of the favorite flowers in home gardens, valued for their attractive blossoms and wonderful fragrance. If placed on a potted stand, they can create an exciting display of scented flowers of vibrant colors. Planting and cultivating sweet peas is simple, and they are great for harvesting because the more you collect, the more they will grow.
Why Do We Grow Sweet Peas?
Sweet peas are loved for their gorgeous, ruffled blooms in pastel, blue and two-tone shades. Many types are sweet-smelling, making them a popular cut flower. Sweet peas have an extensive growing and breeding background for both the professional florist and home gardener.
Tips for Planting Sweet Peas
- The best time to plant your peas is in late winter. You can start them inside or directly on the outside ground. Sweet peas like cold weather and can tolerate light frost, so directly on the ground around the end of February in mild climates is perfect! If you live somewhere with a harsh winter, it may be better to wait until March. And for continuous bouquets throughout the summer, scale your crops and continue to plant them in May! You will have a bouquet by the end of the summer!
- Make sure to dip your seeds overnight or place a small nick on them with something sharp like a knife. This will speed up the germination process.
- Sweet peas bloom in full sun. Therefore, if possible, find a sunny spot in your garden for them that also has some shade. They don’t want to be burned in the summer!
- Add some compost to your soil and make sure it has good drainage! Sweet peas also like to be fertilized during the growing season – the fish emulsion works very well. Once the plants are large enough, cover the bottom of the plants to keep the weeds away and keep them moist at all times.
- When you plant your peas, be sure to keep the seeds consistently moist but not soaked. Don’t let them dry!
- Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in groups of three.
- Once your peas have sprouted. Clean the seedlings so that they are about 15 cm apart.
- Once your peas grow 2-3 sets of leaves on their stems, pinch them back. This will give you fuller plants and more flowers.
- When your peas are blooming in the summer, be sure to keep cutting them so that they continue to bloom.
- Protect your pea vines on a trellis. You can easily make one with bamboo stick and twine. You can also use bamboo to make small “tents” for peas to grow, just as you would garden peas.
- When you are ready to harvest them, do this in the morning or at night, when they are well hydrated.
- To use them for flower arrangements, cut the stems at a diagonal angle so that they can drink as much water as possible. It is ideal if you can place them directly in the water during the harvest, let them rest for a few hours, and then cut the stems under water when preparing them. Sweet peas should last for 3 to 5 days in a pot if they are kept out of drafts and out of direct sunlight.
Remember to share with us in the comment section below how your sweet peas turned out.
