Sweet peas, a type of vegetable, grow up to 6-8 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. They require well-drained, fertile soil with neutral tones. The main flowering season is June and July, but they can start earlier or continue later depending on the time of sowing and planting. To prolong their growth, keep watering, feeding, and deadheading.
If you’re planting a climber, place your transplants near a railing, wall, or fence, or construct a support like a trellis, frame, or teepee. Sweet peas are vines that can reach up to 10 feet tall and need support to grow. Plant seeds in autumn or spring, pinching out the tips when plants reach 10cm tall to encourage bushy growth.
Pinching out sweet peas means pinching the tip off each plant once they reach about 15cm in height or when the stems have grown long enough to have four. Sweet pea plants need vertical support and will need a frame to clamber and climb over as they often reach over 1.8m (6ft) tall. A teepee or frame can also be used.
Standard supports like trellises should be installed before planting to avoid bending or bending the plants. Sweet peas never start to flower well until they are at least 1.2 meters (4ft) high. In summary, planting sweet peas early in the season and selecting the perfect variety for your garden is crucial for their growth and longevity.
📹 Growing Sweet Peas from Seed
This video shows how to directly sow sweet pea seeds at the base of a cattle fence arch. The gardener soaks the seeds in hot water to help them germinate faster, then plants them in a shallow trench. They also discuss how to train the plants to climb the arch and create a beautiful display.
Can you stop sweet peas growing too tall?
To ensure healthy, well-balanced sweet pea plants, pinch out the shoot tips once they reach 7-10cm tall. Harden the plants for at least two weeks before planting, and stand them outdoors on mild days before bringing them back indoors. Spring-sown sweet peas should be planted after the worst frost is over, while autumn-sown plants can go out earlier. Choose a sunny site with fertile, well-drained soil, and dig in well-rotted manure or compost to boost soil fertility and moisture-retention.
Rake in a general-purpose fertiliser like Growmore to improve nutrient levels. Water well before planting, setting young plants 20-30cm apart and providing plenty of support. Keep plants well-watered after planting and watch out for pests, as young growth is susceptible to slug and snail damage. Tie plants to their supports once a fortnight as they begin to grow. Established plants need regular deadheading and plenty of water during dry spells. Regularly feed with a liquid fertiliser like Westland Boost or a potash-rich tomato feed like Big Tom Tomato Food.
Deadheading faded flowers is essential to prevent premature flowering and encourage further flushes of flowers. Young sweet peas are vulnerable to slug and snail attack, so use an organic slug control.
What is the secret to growing sweet peas?
Sweet peas require consistent water to thrive, so set up drip irrigation or soaker hoses when planting them. Water them deeply 2-3 times a week. To prolong blooming, harvest and deadhead flowers frequently. For the longest vase life, pick stems with at least 2 unopened flowers at the tip. Sweet peas are short-lived cut flowers, lasting 4 to 5 days in a vase. Adding sugar or flower preservative to the water can extend their lifespan.
Why are my sweet peas not flowering?
Sweet peas are thirsty plants that require regular watering, feeding, and sunlight to thrive. They should be tied in vertical frames and allowed to grow up a vertical support. They may not flower due to fungal problems, so it’s crucial to ensure they are in free-draining soil and mulch around the base.
Short stems in sweet peas require the plant’s energy, so it’s essential to tie them into vertical frames, water them well, and pinch out curly stems and tendrils. Towards the end of the growing season, stems tend to become progressively shorter, but long stems start with a healthy, happy seedling. To prevent these issues, ensure the plants are in free-draining soil and mulch around the base.
How tall do sweet peas get?
Sweet peas, a climbing vine with the potential to reach a height of up to 10 feet, necessitate a spacing of 6 inches and the provision of adequate support. The plant requires an adequate supply of water, and it should be pinched out when it reaches an height of eight inches to encourage branching and increased stem production.
What triggers peas to flower?
Sweet pea flowers may not bloom due to various factors. These include insufficient light, proper fertilization, deadheading, and poor light conditions. Sweet peas require direct sunlight for six to eight hours daily, with a preference for long days. They may not perform their best without long days.
Furthermore, they need a small amount of compost, which is not necessary if they are grown in rich soil. Over-fertilization can lead to lush green foliage and flowers, while phosphorus encourages flowers. Lawn fertilizer with high nitrogen content should be avoided. Deadheading is the easiest to fix, and it can be done every few days to keep the plant from forming a seed pod.
To get sweet peas blooming again, deadhead them and transplant them to a sunnier location. However, sweet peas are not fond of being transplanted into hot weather, and high nitrogen fertilizer can be more challenging. High phosphorus fertilizer or bone meal may help some, and frequent watering can help.
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What happens if you don’t pinch out sweet peas?
Sweet peas that were sown earlier this autumn may be getting leggy, indicating that it’s time to pinch them out. This is to encourage bushy growth, which in turn will produce more flowers. If left to grow as they are, flowers will only grow from one stem, while pinching out top growth encourages multiple stems, resulting in more beautiful blooms. Martin Fish’s Pots and Trowels video provides tips on how to pinch out the growing tips, resulting in stronger, bushier sweet peas that will produce numerous beautiful flowers next season. For more guidance on sowing sweet peas indoors in spring, check out Martin Fish’s previous blog.
How can I encourage my sweet peas to flower?
It is advisable to refrain from allowing plants to go to seed, as this may result in a cessation of flowering. As an alternative, it is recommended that the plants be harvested on a regular basis in order to increase the number of flowers.
How long do sweet peas take to flower?
Sweet peas, also known as Lathyrus, are easy to grow and flower in 12-14 weeks. They are easy to grow, preferring full sun in fertile soil, providing support for climbers, and can be deadheaded to prolong flowering. They can be grown from seed or divided, and are particularly attractive to the brimstone butterfly. It is essential to read the instruction labels on your plants for proper care and success.
How do I stop my sweet peas from growing too tall?
The speaker then applies a slight pressure to the item, positioning it just above the set of true leaves. This action effectively prevents the item from toppling over.
How tall should sweet peas be before pinching out?
Sweet peas should be planted in late May after frost has passed. Before planting, harden them off by putting them out in the day and returning them to a frost-free place at night. Pinch out the tips of young plants when they reach about 10cm tall to encourage bushy growth. Purchase sweet pea plug plants in spring and plant them in fertile soil beneath a bamboo cane support. Most sweet peas grow to about 2m in height. Water well until they have good growth and space them about 20cm apart. Remember to plant plants only once the soil has warmed up and give them a good drink after planting.
Does cutting sweet peas make them flower more?
Sweet peas have the capacity to continue blooming throughout the summer and as late as October if they are maintained through regular cutting, adequate watering, and the removal of dead flowers.
📹 How to grow sweet peas: tips from a sweet pea flower farmer
A stand of sweet peas is an irresistible addition to any summer garden. Planted to grow up teepees, scramble over pergolas, …
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