Sweet pea
A much loved flower with a long history
Sweet peas have long been a favourite among flower lovers and growers. Over the years enthusiasts have developed a wide range of varieties, so today there is great variation in colour, shape and height. The smallest varieties reach around 20 cm, while the most vigorous can climb to 3 metres.
One of the first to spread the sweet pea in Europe was Francisko Cupani, who grew them in a monastery garden in Sicily in the 1600s. Henry Eckford later added to the work by breeding varieties with larger and showier flowers.
Direct sowing or starting sweet peas indoors
Sweet peas can be sown straight outdoors once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has reached at least 12 degrees. Sow about 10 cm apart and thin later to roughly 20 cm between plants.
For earlier flowering it is common to start them indoors. Sow the seeds between February and April, depending on your climate. Count on sowing about 5-7 weeks before planting out.
Sowing and raising the plants
Sow the seeds about 1 cm deep. Sweet peas develop roots quickly and do best with some depth, so choose taller pots or, for example, toilet roll tubes. Ordinary pots or a seed tray also work well.
Keep the sowing at room temperature. Once the plants are up they want good light and slightly cooler conditions so they grow compact and sturdy. For an early sowing, grow lights are a useful aid.
Pinch out for stronger plants
When the plants have two to three pairs of leaves you can pinch out the tips. This makes them branch and grow stronger. The tip can also be used as a cutting if it has at least two pairs of leaves. Remove the lowest leaves and plant it in soil.
A tough beauty
Despite its delicate look the sweet pea is a fairly tough plant. It tolerates light frost and can start being hardened off early in the season, often as soon as April or May. Keep the plants sheltered or bring them in on cold nights.
Plant out when night temperatures are around 5-8 degrees. Choose a sunny and preferably wind sheltered spot with rich soil high in organic matter. Sweet peas also do very well in pots. Just remember to water regularly.
Support and feeding
Sweet peas are climbers and need something to grow on. That can be a trellis, a fence, a pergola or home made supports of branches. On a balcony a net works well.
Feed regularly, for example every second week. Liquid fertiliser or natural alternatives such as nettle water work fine.
Enjoy the flowering
Once the sweet peas start flowering you can pick bouquets as often as you like. The more you pick, the more they flower. Pick in the morning, when the flowers keep best.
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2022-10-14