How to Grow Sweet Pea (Lathyrus Odoratus)

The heady scent of sweet peas is an old-time favorite. This annual (grows just one year) vine is easy to start from seed - in fact, you probably won't find established seedlings in nurseries. Sweet peas are wonderful when trained up the supports of a porch or the railings of a deck, where their perfume will be best appreciated. They're also a popular cut flower.

Bypass Pruners
Compost Makers
Fertilizers
Garden Spades
Garden Trowels
Mulch
Plants

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a site in full sun with rich, well-drained soil.
- 2
  Soak sweet pea seeds in warm water for 2 to 6 hours before planting.
- 3
  Plant seeds in early spring, as soon as the soil has thawed thoroughly. Soil temperatures and moisture levels vary widely at this time of year - if you don't see any seedlings after a week or so, replant.
- 4
  Once seeds have germinated, thin plants so that they stand 6 to 12 inches apart.
- 5
  Provide support for your sweet peas to climb (unless they're the dwarf, bushy types that need no support) - they can grow up to 8 feet tall. Good support candidates include netting, trellises, arbors, fences and string supports.
- 6
  Keep soil evenly moist. Mulching is a good idea.
- 7
  Trim or pinch faded flowers to promote longer blooming.
- 8
  Fertilize every two to four weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Sweet peas are heavy feeders.
- 9
  Tear out and discard plants after heat arrives and they begin to look ratty.

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