Sweet Peas
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From Southside plot holder AH—planting ahead for sweet peas next year.
Few people can resist the fragrance of annual Sweet Peas flowering during the summer months. They come in a wide range of colours including bicoloured forms. Seeds can be sown in a greenhouse or cold frame from October to November or February to April to be planted out in late spring. The seeds have a hard coating and some retailers recommend soaking the seeds for a few hours before sowing, or nicking the coating with a piece of sandpaper, but neither is necessary. Sweet Peas like a deep root run and can be planted in cardboard loo roll inners. |
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When the seedlings reach about six inches pinch out the top to encourage bushy growth. After hardening off for a week, plant out in late spring. Sweet peas like a moist well manured sunny site, and may need high potash feeds later in the season to keep them flowering longer. As climbers they will grow up canes or netting and may need some tying in to produce straight flower stems. Keep picking frequently and deadheading to produce more flowers, if allowed to go to seed they will stop flowering. There are Sweet Pea classes to enter at FEDAGA’s annual flower show in September. Why not give it a go?
Edinburgh's FEDAGA annual show sweet pea winners Photo: NM
