Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are cool weather annuals that thrive at temperatures from 70-80 degrees. Therefore, in order for seeds to germinate, the ground temperature should be consistently between 60-70 degrees. Seeds may require chipping; knick those which fail to swell with a file or knife after soaking overnight. If you live in an area where the transition from cold winter to hot summer temperatures happens quickly, consider starting your plants indoors and transplanting. Predicting timing perfectly is difficult due to diverse climates in the U.S. The key is very early planting, as soon as soil can be worked. The following information lists types of sweet peas and helpful growing tips. The 'standard' refers to the back of the flower, the 'wings' refer to the front of the flower.

Cuthbertsons

Bred in California by Ferry-Morse Seed Company From Spencer and an early-flowering American strain Require 11 hours of daylight to bloom Can carry four to six flowers per stem Color range not as extensive as Spencers Can withstand hot weather better than the Spencers Flower two weeks before the Spencers

Old-Fashioned

Require 12 or more hours of sunlight for flower initiation to occur Simple and charming flowers are highly fragrant 12" long stems Multi branching, smallish leaves and delicate foliage Most are heat tolerant

Royals

An improved form of Cuthbertsons Stems are longer and stronger Plants are more vigorous and the flowers are larger Bloom later than Cuthbertsons More tolerant of heat and bright summer weather than Spencers

Spencers

Require 12 hours of sunlight to bloom Huge, fragrant, frilly blooms Abundant blossoms on long stems, great for cut flowers Do best in areas with cooler summers

Winter Elegance

Require 10 hours of daylight to bloom Early blooming and long-stemmed Flowers are larger than Old Fashioned varieties Flowers are smaller than the more elegant Spencers Excellent selection for climates with hot summers

Winter-Blooming

Require 10 or more hours of sunlight for flower initiation to occur Up to 6 flowers on each stem Moderately fragrant, medium sized flowers and stems Not too much branching A good choice where summers are too hot for regular varieties

Spring-Blooming

Require 11 or more hours of sunlight for flower initiation to occur Stems have 4-5 flowers that bloom two weeks earlier than the Spencers Include Cuthbertsons, Royals, and Mammoth series Fragrance varies from slight to strong according to the variety Used in cut flower trade

Summer-Blooming

Require 13 or more hours of sunlight for flower initiation to occur In California, flower initiation is toward the middle or end of May Include Galaxy series, which are prolific bloomers if kept cut, and all of the Spencers 'Show peas' usually have two main stems, largest blooms, longest stems and foliage is larger than other types. Fragrance varies from slight to strong according to the variety Trickier to grow than other varieties Length of blooming depends on weather. Early heat waves stop blooming

Dwarfs and Semi-Dwarfs

Many different varieties from very dwarf, bush, to 24" knee-high Valued as an annual ground cover, in window boxes and hanging baskets Non-tendril or bush types Do not require a supporting structure Begin blooming in early summer

Southern California

Winter-flowering varieties should be planted August to September for spring bloom, take care that the seeds do not dry out Summer-blooming varieties should be planted November to January for summer blooms Royal families will be first to bloom Spencers bloom the most spectacularly three weeks later Old-Fashioned are most heat resistant

Sowing and Soil Preparation

Choose an open area allowing for plenty of sun. Avoid competition with other roots. Soaking seeds in water for 24 hours prior to planting is recommended for germination of sweet pea seeds. Dig soil deeply, no less than 12" deep, add well rotted compost or other organic matter to the soil. Sweet peas like lime soil with a pH greater than 7 and are moderately heavy feeders. Soil should be well drained. When plants are in the ground the soil must be kept moist, but not water logged. The amount and timing of fertilizing will vary with individual soil and growing conditions. Sweet peas can develop a large root system. Healthy plants will grow 8-10 feet and have a lot of foliage.

Water Requirements

Once developed regular watering is required

Feeding Practices

Example schedule: Using transplant method, start plants in January, transplant in mid-March and begin fertilizing them using a liquid fertilizer in mid-April. Fertilize every two weeks throughout the growing season.

Required Supporting Structure

Structure must be sturdy; when it rains the weight of the foliage will cause a weak structure to collapse. Example structure: 8' steel posts set 10' apart. Hang chicken wire (2" holes, 5' in height), start 12" above the ground for growing height up to 6 feet, between the poles. Support with bamboo canes or grown around a wigwam structure will work if you are only growing a few plants or starting late in the season.

For Straight Stems

Tie your plants to their supporting structure. When the plants are about 18" tall take a ball of cotton string and begin at one end of a row, secure it to the chicken wire 12" above ground (the string is at the bottom of the chicken wire). Walk down the row, 'corral' the plants, and tie the string to the wire every 3' or so, until reaching the end of the row. Repeat every week or two, depending on how fast the plants are growing, throughout the season.

Potential Challenges

Young seedlings are particularly vulnerable to slugs. Baby slugs may buzz-cut your seedlings as soon as they emerge from the soil before you are aware that germination has occurred. Once plants have 4 leaves the baby slugs nibble holes in the leaves but won't kill the plant.

Glossary

Bicolor - The standard, upper part of the flower, is a different color from the wings Chipping - Nicking with a knife or file, to break through the hard seed coat Flake - A boldly patterned type in which both standards and wings are streaked in, usually, a dark color on a white or grey-white background. Keel - The part of the flower, under the wings, which contains the sexual parts Picotee - Indicates a narrow border along the edge of the petals which is a darker shade of, and often a noticeable contrast to, the main petal color. Self - A flower in which both standards and wings are the same color. Standard - The upper, almost vertical, part of the flower Stripe - Dramatically marked, the flowers are usually white, or close to white, and patterned in a very striking way. Wings - The two petals which make up the lower part of the flower and angled down around the keel.