Sweet peas are fragrant annual flowers
The botanic name for sweet pea , Lathyrus odoratus , literally means “ fragrant pea . ” Just take a perambulation through any garden containing these wonderfully sweet yearly , and you ’ll know why . The intoxicating , honeylike olfactory property of the flowers is amazing . Careful , though . Unlike ediblegarden peas , sweet pea are poisonous .
scented pea plant heyday are available with either smooth or mess up petals in shade of pinkish , flushed , maroon , purple , lavender , Salmon River , peach , pick and ashen , not to mention bicolors . The scented blossoms make long - endure slash flowers .
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There are two types of sweet peas:
Vines that climb by wrapping their tendrils around supports
Vine - eccentric sweet peas are 5 to 6 feet grandiloquent in most case but can reach 8 or 10 feet in modest , coastal climate . They ’re gross for cover and backcloth as long as they are givena tall funding , such as stakes , string , netting or fencing material . It ’s a good approximation to plant 2- to 3 - foot - tall annual in front to cover bare depressed stems .
Dwarf, bush types that do not climb
Bush types are freestanding , grow only about 12 to 18 inch tall , so they ’re splendid in beds , borders , hanging basketsand container .
Growing sweet peas
Sweet pea prefer cool weather , so they may part to wither with high-pitched summer temperatures . Although you may apply warmth - tolerant cultivar , such as ‘ Old Spice ’ and‘Cupani ’s Original,’an alternative is to tear the vine out and replace them with otherannual vines . Or plant them together with morning glory , which will eventually overcome their partners and extend up the fade sweet peas .
Plant sweet peas in a sunny , well - drained internet site that has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH ( 7.0 to 7.5 ) . If the soil is acid , sprinkleground limestoneon top until it look like a powdered brownie , then work it in .
Planting sweet pea seeds
Annual sweet peas are finicky — they have to have everything “ just right . ” The seminal fluid ca n’t be too hot or too moth-eaten , planted too thick or too shallow . They desire warm soil to evolve , but need to begin early enough to mature strong , inscrutable roots .
How to start sweet pea seeds indoors
In colder zones , starting seeds indoors could be an pick .
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Direct sow sweet pea seeds outside
The best time to plant sweet pea seeds outside count on your sphere ’s distinctive winter weather : If it is balmy with low temperatures around freezing , sow sweet pea semen in fall ; if it is harsh and can get well below freezing for prospicient periods of time , wait for spring , but works as early as you may mold the soil . Either mode , it ’s a beneficial thought to educate the planting bed in fall . Here ’s how :
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Planting sweet peas with manure
Here is an old - fashioned planting technique that can connect with the scented pea ’s challenges . This cognitive operation warm the soil enough to germinate the seeds while the weather is still nerveless enough to keep the grow flora happy . And because it places rich nutrients deep below the plants , it encourages them to train antecedent that will help the plant endure raging conditions well into summertime .
Sweet pea care in the garden
Sweet peas varieties to try
Whether you ’re looking for a floriferous vine , long - lasting excision flower or simply a fragrant friend to put near the window , Lathyrus odoratus wo n’t allow you down . Here ’s a few sweet pea plant cultivars to try out :
' Cupani ’s Original ' sweet pea ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsRich bicolor flush in deep violet purpleness and puritanic in early spring to midsummerLightFull sun to part shadeSize6 to 8 ft . tall and vining
' April in Paris ' sweet pea ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsRuffled cream flowers are edged in lilac purple that darken with old age in early spring to midsummerLightFull sun to part shadeSize4 to 6 foot . tall and vining
' Fire and Ice ' sweet pea plant ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsA commixture of fragrant orange , flushed and creamy white blooms spring to summerLightFull sunSize6 to 8 ft . tall and vining
' Blue Vein ' sugared pea plant ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsCoral - orange efflorescence recrudesce blue vein as they mature in former outpouring to midsummerLightFull sun to part shadeSize6 to 8 ft . tall and vining
' Perfume Delight ' Mix sweet pea ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsFlowers are a premix of colors in shades of rose , pink , lavender , purple , crimson , white-hot and bicolors in former spring to midsummerLightFull sun to part shadeSize6 to 8 foot . tall and vining
' Heirloom Cupid ' sweet pea ( Lathyrus odoratus )
TypeAnnual vineBloomsRose - pink flowers with picotee edge on shaggy-coated plants in former - spring to midsummerLightFull sun to part shadeSize8 to 10 in . magniloquent and wide
