Sowing Season For Sweet Peas
12 Feb 2011 3 Comments
in Flowers, Garden Design, organic gardening Tags: Container flower garden, Heirloom flowers, nadia knows gardens, planting sweet peas, preparing sweet peas
♥ This is a topic I’ve written about several times and the buzz out there is… “When should I plant my Sweet Pea seeds ?” So here it is again!
In Southern California the best time to plant Sweet Peas is February through April, but March is my favorite month to dig these seeds into the ground. I’ve had great luck with planting these fragrant beauties in raised planters, along fences and in small containers for the patio. If you are looking for an easy to grow flower then the Sweet Pea is the one you should try! In the past 15 years that I have grown Sweet Peas I’ve noticed that the seeds that are purchased from quality seed companies grow and bloom at a more abundant rate. Also, if heirloom flowers are purchased you can save the seeds from the end of the season and use them the following year. These seeds make great gifts in Birthday and Thank You cards 
♥ Some helpful hints for planting sweet peas ♥
♥ Soak the seeds over night to soften the hard seed coat prior to planting.
♥ Plant seeds 3″- 6″ apart and 1″ deep in a sunny location.
♥ Sweat Peas need a trellis, string or twine to grow and climb (unless you purchase the bush type).
♥ They make a great cut flower. Cut frequently for a heavier production.
♥ Use a thin top layer of mulch to retain moisture.
♥ Plant Sweet Peas in cool weather.
♥ Heirloom or Open Pollinated/ Self -pollinated sweet peas will grow from saved seeds. Allow the plants to dry out while still planted in the ground and then collect the seeds from the pods. Store in containers in a cool and dry place.
♥ There are many colors and patterns to choose from. If your local garden store is limited in selection then try these online sites: Renee’s Seeds.com /Territorial Seed Co.com / Enchanting Sweet Peas.com
Soaking Sweet Peas over night in a dish of water help them sprout more quickly.
♥ Save glass food jars for creating an inexpensive vas. Arranging these flowers is pure magic for the ‘challenged floral arranger’ like me which is one of the reasons this is a favorite of mine. Below is a miniature tequila bottle filled with a few colored glass pebbles.
Planting Sweet Peas in a container works well- create a support for the vines to grow with a bamboo arch or sticks.
Last seasons trellised Sweet Peas
Feb 13, 2011 @ 19:35:00
My absolute favorite flowers to grow! Sweet Peas mean spring. Sweet Peas fragrance is wonderful. I like the “bush” variety since I don’t have tall trellises.
Jul 30, 2011 @ 15:56:24
Hello Nadia, I’ve visited your site on several occasions and find it very inspiring! I’m a newbie gardener and having a difficult time understanding “seasons” and when is a good time to sow, transplant, etc.. especially when most guide (eg, seed packet instructions) are somewhat general and geared more for the entire country and not specifically Southern California (coastal San Diego, for me).
I am addicted to sowing seeds and overly eager (impatient) when it comes to the right timing. I’ve read in many places to sow Sweet Peas in the fall (August / September) for San Diego. I’ve provided to links below. But you were able to sow your Sweet Peas Feb – April. So am I too late?
see digital seed schedule here:
http://www.digitalseed.com/gardener/schedule/flowers.html
and
san diego union trib write-up here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080831/news_1hs31sepgarm.html
Does the month to plant change every year? It’s pretty confusing for me.
Thank you for your help!
Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:40:12
Gardening is so much trial and error and the general guidelines are just that… general.
I have found that Digital Seed has the best planting guide for San Diego.
Sweet peas are tricky… it is for sure too late to sow them by seed right now or even find them at a nursery in a plantling. I plant them in different areas Feb, March and April. Sometimes at the beginning of May. It has to be cool and they take several months to really get blooming. They need morning sun and 6+ hours of sun.
San Diego has so many micro climates and if you are coastal then the fog makes everything that much harder. The month to plant does change if you are having a very rainy March or April. I kind of check temperatures and wait for the last Frost of the winter before sowing directly outdoors.
If you see plantlings at the nursery… you know it is ok to put them in the garden. Local nurseries sort of do the guessing for us… “when to plant”.
Also… Cedros Gardens has great free lectures on the weekends. I have learned a lot from them.