How to Sow Sweet Pea Seeds
23 January 2018
Choosing Your Sweet Pea Seeds
Sweet peas, Lathyrus odoratus, are hardy annual flowers known for their fragrance. As Britains biggest Sweet Pea producer for the home gardener, we have over 150 individual colours in our main catalogue. Choose which flowers you would like from our extensive range. We have single colours, spencer types, dwarf types, old fashioned varieties and mixtures and colllections. They are rated on their scent too. The ratings are average scent, well scented, highly scented and very highly scented.
When to Sow Sweet Pea Seeds
Seed sowing can begin in October through to late February. Peter Miler, Kings expert, finds that the optimum time is early November.
How to Sow Sweet Pea Seeds
Sow 5 seeds into a 7.5cm (3in) pot using a good growing medium. We recommend using a good quality seed sowing compost, not multi-purpose compost.
Where to Sow Sweet Pea Seeds
Keep seedlings in a cold frame and do not let the soil dry out, but do not overwater. When watering, use tap water rather than butt saved water. Direct sowings during October or March can be planted direct in the flowering site. This can be in a flower border, or if you are choosing to grow a compact, dwarf variety, these can be planted into pots and containers. Sweet peas enjoy the sun, so plant them in a sunny position.
What to do Next
In Peters experience, he has found that chipping and soaking the seeds is not necessary. When the plants have grown 3 pairs of true leaves, pinch out the tops to encourage side shoots for the promotion of greater flower production.
Harden off, prior to planting out in early April, (weather permitting) and feed foliage or soil dressing at fortnightly intervals. When the plants start to grow tall, we recommend that you support the plants. They can become heavy after rain.
Maturity
Late June to September
Peter Miller - Kings Sweet Pea Expert!
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