Lathyrus odoratus
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SWEET PEAS
Family: Fabaceae
Click on thumbnails at the bottom of the page to see each individual Sweet pea cultivars and their attributes.
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Italy.
Plant Group:
Annual.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: All.
USDA zones: All.
Mature size:
Height: 6 feet (2 m).
Flowering period:
Summer to early autumn.
Flowering attributes:
Racemes bear 2 to 4 fragrant flowers of various colors.
Growth habit:
Annual climber.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Fertile, humus rich, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Apply complete organic fertilizer every two weeks if liquid fertilizer, or supply an all purpose, organic fertilizer during planting and again in late spring and midsummer.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed in situ late February or early March. I soak the seed overnight by first pouring hot water over the seeds, and then placing them on moist paper towels until they germinate, keeping the towel moist at all times.
Pruning Methods:
Dead head spent flowers to keep the vine flowering.
Rainy Side Notes
Since there are so many hybrids to choose from, it would be impossible to trial them all. Many hybrids are bred for exhibition. I think the most important consideration for my own cutting garden is they must have good "Sweet pea" fragrance, and long stems are a plus. Sweet peas are one of the best vines for the cutting garden. Provide a support for the vine to climb.
After the seeds are germinated, I immediately pot them up and grow them in the greenhouse until about late April. Plants are then acclimated to outdoors. I plant out the seedlings in their permanent positions in early May. Then the plant's growing tips are pinched out to encourage many branches. I usually have Sweet peas blooming all summer long, using this method, as long as I keep the flowers well picked, although by August the plants are not looking very well. As I type this, I can smell the fragrance of L. 'Saltwater Taffy Swirls' from the vase sitting on my desk. Such a reward for growing these lovely flowers!
As a cut flower, Sweet peas only last about 3 days in water. Cut flowers when 2 or 3 flowers are showing color and stems are about twelve inches long.
As I trial the many varieties of sweet peas, I will add them to the gallery below.
Graham Rice