How to Grow Sweet Pea Flower Plants
Annual, perennial, Lathyrus
Sweet Peas are fragrant and have an old-fashioned charm! They were brought
to the New World from Europe. There are annual and perennial varieties in
a range of colors including blue, white, pink, cream, and purple flowers.
They can be grown in your flower garden, or scattered as a wildflower.
Sweet Peas are a hardy annual and thrive in cool weather. They
can survive frosts, freezes, and a snow cover. That's how their cousin
the vegetable "Snow peas" got their name. There are vining and non-vining
varieties producing an early bloom in cool weather. Non-vining varieties
will grow 1-2 feet tall, while vining types can grow 5-7 feet or more.
Did you know? There are over 1,000 varieties of Sweet Pea.
Propagation:
Sweet Peas are grown from seed. Directly seed Sweet Pea seeds into your flower
garden in the spring.
Sow seeds 6 inches apart and 1 to 1/12 inches deep.
Once your plants have been established, they usually reseed themselves.
How to Grow Sweet Pea Plants:
Sweet Pea are very easy to grow. They prefer full sun and cool weather. They
will do well in a variety of soils, but prefer rich soil. Being an early,
cool weather plant, they do not mind cool or cold weather or wet soils.
Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week. Add a general purpose
fertilizer once or twice a season. They require little maintenance.
For vining types, provide something for them to climb and they will rapidly
ascend skyward.
Sweet Pea are also considered wildflowers. Once established, they will thrive
and spread easily. If in a flower garden, they can get out of hand easily
and overcrowd other flowers.
Tip: To keep the flowers blooming, pick spent blooms before the seed
begins to form.
Insect and Disease:
Sweet Peas are popular among a variety of insects, birds and butterflies.
The most common insect problems include aphids and root borers. Insecticides
and repellents are usually effective. Slugs can also be a problem.
More on Slug control.
In very wet and cold weather, mildew and fungus can invade your plants.
Use fungicides early, before disease gets a foothold.
More Information:
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How
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