Sweet peas are annuals and are highly sought after by gardeners. This popularity is easily explained by the plant's vibrant, fragrant blooms. They bloom throughout the summer, making them a delight to the eye throughout the three warm months. Furthermore, sweet pea flowers come in a variety of colors, offering a wide selection of colors to choose from when selecting the perfect complement to your garden's overall look.
In addition to all the other advantages, it's worth adding that the plant is frost-resistant, able to withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees Celsius. How do you grow annual sweet peas from seeds? After all, planting seeds is the key to the successful growth and development of this crop. Which plants are suitable for alpine slide?
Seed preparation
To ensure the plant will be a joy to grow in the summer, you should begin planting seeds and preparing for this task in late March and early April.
The seed coat of sweet peas is quite tough, so they should be prepared in advance. Place the seeds in a glass and pour boiling water over them, letting them soak for 24 hours. Discard any seeds that float to the surface. After soaking, rinse them again with room-temperature water. Next, germinate the seeds, which should be done in a humid environment. You can place the seeds in a handkerchief, sand, or sawdust, but make sure they remain moist at all times.
Once the seeds have sprouted, they should be planted in individual containers. Plastic cups or miniature pots are suitable for growing sweet pea seeds (photo).
To ensure the seeds grow well, place the pots in a well-lit, warm area. The seeds don't need to be buried deep; 2-3 centimeters is sufficient. After two weeks, you'll see the first shoots appear.
Planting and care recommendations
You can begin planting as early as May. To ensure good growth, the seeds should be acclimated to temperature fluctuations. Before planting, place the potted seeds on a balcony or open windowsill for an hour, gradually increasing the time by a few minutes.
The most favorable conditions for growing sweet peas are a place without drafts, where there is sufficient light.
Important! Although sweet peas love light, they don't like being in direct sunlight, as the rays will rob the flowers of essential moisture. Therefore, choose a location that won't be directly exposed to sunlight.
The optimal spacing for sweet peas is 25 centimeters apart. Once the sweet peas reach 20 centimeters in length, they should be tied to a support. This is essential, otherwise the plant's climbing stems will become tangled. By tying the plant, you can create not only a well-growing plant but also a beautiful living wall.
Important! Sweet peas don't like being transplanted, so it's best to plant them directly in the spot where they will grow permanently.
Sweet peas are very demanding in their care, so growing them isn't as easy as it might seem. The plant needs to be watered every six weeks, and it's important to maintain a consistent watering schedule. If the plant doesn't get enough moisture, it may never flower.
Advice: For abundant and long-lasting flowering, the plant should be watered moderately every day, provided it is dry outside and no rain is expected. Other popular flowers for growing are petunia.
To ensure your plant delights you with its vibrant flowers and vibrant appearance all summer long, you can use a few tricks:
- Those flowers that have faded should be cut off periodically, while leaving a few pods.
- Step-sonning should be carried out periodically.
If these nuances are observed, as well as proper care, sweet peas will bloom until the onset of frost.
How to remove side shoots from sweet peas
For those who want to enjoy vibrant flowers all summer long, pinching out the plant's side shoots is essential, as mentioned earlier. How do you do this correctly?
Sweet peas have a fairly long stem, each bearing 4 to 5 flowers. The stem should be trimmed back to no more than two shoots, using a regular pocketknife. How to grow Miracle tomatoes from Russian gardens, reviews.
There are also varieties of perennial sweet peas that can be grown from seed. These two techniques are very similar, so knowing how to grow annual sweet peas from seed can help you grow perennial sweet peas. Both plants bloom beautifully and are a joy to behold, becoming a true garden highlight. But the most important thing is to properly prepare the seeds for planting and choose a good, suitable location.