Sweet Pea Flowers
There are several things you have to take note of when trying to grow this plant.
Early Planting
The first is that it will germinate and flower much better if planted early in the spring. In a USDA zone 4, we’re talking the middle of April when the ground is still cool but not frozen. If you wait until May and warmer soils, you’ll find the germination may be slightly higher but the flowering slightly lower.
Pick Variety
The second is that in order to get the delicious fragrance of this plant, you’re going to have to pick your varieties carefully. Not all modern sweet pea flowers are fragrant! Look for the packaging, label, seed catalog description and if it doesn’t say “fragrant”
Sweet pea flowers grow best when the nights are 45F and the days are 60F. So do not be afraid to plant them outdoors in early April as soon as you can reasonably work your soil. To get a headstart on the season, you can start them indoors in peat pots 3 weeks before you plant them outdoors. Plant two seeds to a peat pot or three seeds and thin out the weakest.
Planting Sweet Pea Flowers Outdoors
To plant outdoors, plant ½ to ¾ inch deep and approximately an inch apart. This plant does best in a rich soil but because of the uneven moisture does not grow well in sandier soils. It will grow acceptably well on clay soils.
The only major problem you’re likely to see is a early infestation of aphids. Use a strong jet of water to knock them off the plants or spray with insecticidal soap – either will control aphids.
An Excellent Cut Flower
This plant makes an excellent cut flower and if the blooms are harvested in early morning as they are just opening, you’ll get 5-7 days from each bloom.
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