Sweet Peas for Springtime Bliss
March is the month to start planting sweet pea seeds. These cottage garden classics produce the most stunning blooms and sweet fragrances. Not only do sweet peas look amazing in garden beds, but they can be trained onto a plant support to create a towering column of vibrant colour that’ll have your neighbours green with envy. And when it’s time to bring the beauty indoors, sweet peas make the perfect cut flowers. If you’re planning to plant out sweet pea seeds this autumn, here’s what will help you make sure that you get to enjoy these delights in spring:
- Sweet Pea seeds: Purchase high-quality sweet pea seeds from a reliable source.
- Soil: Sweet Peas grow best in well-drained soil, so choose a light, fertile soil mix or improve your garden soil by adding compost or organic matter.
- Trellis or support structure: Sweet Peas need a support structure to climb on as they grow. Using bamboo poles or wooden stakes and string, you can easily make up a simple support. Alternatively, you can purchase a support trellis.
- Fertiliser: Sweet Peas benefit from regular feeding during their growth cycle. Choose a balanced fertiliser with a higher phosphorus content to encourage root and flower development.
- Mulch: Use a layer of mulch around the base of your Sweet Peas to help retain moisture and control weed growth.
- Pruning shears: As the Sweet Peas grow, you may need to trim back any dead or diseased foliage to promote healthy growth.
- Sunlight: Sweet Peas require at least six hours of full sunlight a day, so choose a planting location that receives plenty of sunshine.
- Patience: Sweet Peas take time to grow and develop, so gardeners should be patient and provide consistent care to ensure a healthy and vibrant display of flowers.