Annual climbers bearing clusters of flowers in a wide variety of colors including red, pink, blue, white and lavender. The stems appear folded and the flowers resemble fringed butterflies. The old-fashioned varieties were selected for their vibrant colors and intense fragrance. Many modern cultivars are on the market offering sweet peas in almost every color except yellow. Not all Sweet pea varieties are fragrant. They have a long season of bloom and make excellent cut flowers.
Details[]
- Species: Lathyrus odoratus. Fabaceae family.
- Depth to sow seed:
- Days to sprout: 10-20
- Days to maturity: 60
- Compatible with Aerogarden? Yes
Testamonials[]
http://www.aerogardengrowers.com/index.php/topic,3838.0.html
Aerogarden Compatibility[]
Yes.
Cultivation and Care[]
Preparing Seeds[]
The outer covering of the sweet pea seed is hard and resistant to absorbing water, an important precursor to seed germination. There are several methods to getting around this:
- Nick the dark outer coat of each seed with a nail-clipper before planting.
- Soak in water for several hours, to soften the seed coating.
- Rub the seeds on a piece of sandpaper to thin the outer coating.
These methods will allow water to enter the seed readily.
Should I prune?[]
At about 3-6", pinch the seedlings to encourage strong side shoots. Pinch off all flowers and buds if transplanting seedlings, to encourage root development.
Sweet pea vines have tendrils and will attach themselves to most any type of support with meshing or lines. Regular deadheading or cutting for display, will keep them blooming longer. Get wooden skewers and push one in the pod then get twist ties or string and gently tie them loosely to the skewer. They will continue to grow and you will get more flowers and peas. They prefer a fertilizer high in potassium, as used for tomatoes. There are few pests or problems associated with sweet peas. They are usually done in by the heat.