Gen —

Shayna — Thanks for providing all that info! I should have mentioned in my review of Botanical Interests that your guys’ website has a huge amount of seed starting and plant growing info.

I also didn’t know that the flowers are poisonous. Thanks for the tip, Shayna.

Sweet Peas can be a little tricky to germinate, but well worth the effort! They require ‘scarification’ to break their hard seed coat. The easiest method is to presoak them for 8 – 24 hours before planting. Be sure to plant them as soon as possible after the soaking period, or they will begin to rot in the water. Alternatively, you can lightly roll them on a piece of sandpaper, so the coat gets nicked. Then, sow at the recommended depth of 1”.

Sweet Peas need cool temperatures to germinate. They will begin to sprout when temperatures are around 55 to 65 degrees.

Cold winter climates: Sow in very early spring. This means St. Patrick’s Day or as soon as you can work the soil. If you are having a dry spring, keep the area watered (but not soggy), so the seeds remain viable until ready to sprout. Sweet Peas can sometimes take as long as 2-4 weeks to sprout, so be patient. The plants can handle light frosts –don’t worry about planting too soon!

Warm winter climates: Sow in August or early September for mid-winter bloom. If you have a warm fall, it might be better to wait a little later in the season to plant. In warm climates, you may be able to plant as late as January or February.

Planting Outside: It’s best to plant them in a well-drained area. If you have a lot of rain or over water the area, they may rot in the soil and not come up. The seedlings are coveted by birds, slugs, and snails – you may want to put some netting or screening over the area to deter birds and put out slug/snail bait.

Planting Inside: Start them inside 4-6 weeks before transplanting outside. Because Sweet Peas don’t like to have their roots disturbed, sow in peat pots. They need cool temperatures to germinate, so find a cool spot like a basement or unheated garage to start them. After they sprout, put them under grow lights or where they will get some sun, but still be fairly cool. Though they can handle light frost, harden them off slowly to avoid shock.

Special Care: Sweet Peas like a deep, rich, fertile soil. Prepare bed 1’-2’ deep with lots of compost or peat. Soils should be slightly alkaline or neutral. Regular feedings recommended. Keep roots cool by mulching and watering regularly during the season. Remove spent blooms to increase bloom period.

Except for the dwarf varieties like Cupid Pink and the bush type, Little Sweetheart, all Sweet Peas require a trellis or fence for support and a sunny area to thrive. They will also do better if protected from harsh winds and in a cooler spot away from the heat of bricks or rock.

Finally, like beans and edible pea varieties, it is a good idea to rotate your planting area at least every three years to avoid the build-up of diseases and pests in the soil.

Note: Sweet Peas are not edible. All varieties are poisonous, especially the flowers and seeds.