Select a growing location that receives full sun.
Prepare the area by incorporating the compost completely into the soil using a spade.
Rake the soil surface until it's smooth. Make a 1-inch-deep furrow with the trowel.
Clip through the outer covering of each sweet pea seed with a nail clipper. The clip should be just enough to crack the outer shell of the seed.
Place the sweet pea seeds into the furrow approximately 2 inches apart. Cover the seeds with 1 inch of soil.
Water the area carefully so that the seeds are not disturbed.
Watch for seedlings to emerge from the ground within one to two weeks from planting. Approximately two weeks later, when the seedlings have four to six leaves and are several inches high, thin the seedlings so that they are roughly 6 inches apart.