By Zelpha Boyd
This one’s for you, Carol! At a recent garden club meeting—the program was wildflowers!—you asked me if I grew Sweet Peas. Well, yes, I do, they’re one of my favorites. And NOW is the time to get them planted!
The Bozeman Public Library is sponsoring a Sweet Pea growing program on March 19th, 2-4 in the large meeting room. A panel of three experienced Sweet Pea growers will present all you need to know about growing these most beautiful of flowers.
My mother loved Sweet Peas, too. We had a long row of these lovely flowers along driveway to our farm house. Right next to them was a row of light blue delphinium. What a sight it was! She picked bouquets every day and filled vases for friends and neighbors. Even in her declining years, she planted and grew Sweet Peas. Always a competitor, she even entered specimens in the contest at Sweet Pea Festival.
There are many, many varieties, colors, and types of Sweet Peas to choose from. Most Sweet Peas are annuals, needing to be planted every year. Cashman’s Nursery, Planet Natural and Fishers have perhaps the best selections of seed. These folks will also answer any questions you may have.
The perennial variety will naturalize and live forever. They only bloom in whites and pinks, and have no fragrance. They do well on a fence to hide an unsightly corner, and grow more vigorous every year.
Growing Sweet Peas is not rocket science. Find an area along a fence and dig a trench about four inches deep. Plant the seeds at the bottom of the trench, about 2 inches apart, pressing in slightly. Cover lightly with soil. Water well with a sprinkling can, not full force hose. As the seedlings begin to emerge, fill in around the tiny seedlings with more soil. And of course, keep them watered.
A Few Hints: Sweet Peas love our cool weather and should be planted as close to Easter as possible.
Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting. Placing the seeds in ice cube trays and planting the ice cubes works for some folks. The seed has a hard shell; either of these methods helps break down this shell, for faster germination.
Sweet Peas are heavy feeders; they need a good rich soil. Use plenty of manure and compost worked into the soil. Jerry Cashman recommends planting in a new area each year.
Planting the seeds 2-4 inches apart allows for each plant to have room to grow its best. Some gardeners plant the seed thickly, thinning out the extra seedlings. The idea of planting thick, is because sometimes all the seed doesn’t germinate. But letting them grow too thick, ensures poor growth.
Keep the plants well watered, especially during the hotter parts of the summer. Water near the base of the plants rather than sprinkling the entire vine.
Plant in full sun. Sweet Peas do like our cool nights; they won’t even grow in the warmer climates of the south.
I hope this answers your questions, Carol. Be sure to attend the session on growing Sweet Peas at the Library; March 19th at 2. And don’t hesitate to call or write: 219-3534, zbritr@bresnan.net
