Sweet peas

Planting sweet peas

Sow 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost; sweet peas germinate in cold soil and bloom only while weather stays cool. In mild climates, sow in fall for spring flowers.

Planting details

• Soak or nick seed overnight to speed germination
• Spacing: 6 to 8 inches along a trellis
• Seed depth: about 1 inch

Growing requirements

Sweet peas need full sun, cool roots, and something to climb. Mulch the root zone and water deeply; flowering stops when summer heat arrives.

Harvesting and care

Pick flowers every few days; letting pods form ends bloom quickly. Cut in the morning for the longest vase life.

Common mistakes

• Sowing late, so plants hit summer heat before blooming
• Skipping a trellis at sowing, since vines cannot be trained after tangling
• Leaving pods to set, which signals the plant to stop flowering

Companion plants

Grow them on a trellis beside early peas or along a fence where their spring bloom finishes before summer crops need the space.