Sweet Pea Planting on St. Patrick's Day

[GardenGeisha]

It is St. Patrick's Day the traditional time to plant flowering sweet peas. Anyone in this group planting peas today? I am planting about 5 different varieties of flowering sweet peas. Any tips?

I soaked my pea seeds overnight.

 

[swampducks]

I've never been able to grow sweet peas. Though I haven't tried in years. Last time I lived in northern VA. Have no idea what I did wrong. About the only vining thing I can grow is snow peas. Tried pole beans once, they didn't grow either. I like sweet peas, but they don't like me.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I would think sweet peas would do well in cool Michigan.

Do you soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting?

I also usually nick the ends of the seeds with an emery board before soaking them, so they germinate faster.

Do they come up and then fizzle, or do they just not ever show up? It takes mine about a month to sprout above ground.

 

[desertlady]

Thanks for the tip, I could not grow sweet peas ! hope this time will happen !!!

 

[GardenGeisha]

A lot of folks have trouble growing sweet peas, but they really aren't that hard. The trick is to get them in the ground no later than this week, so they will have plenty of cool weather to germinate in. They don't do well if planted any later, though once I had good results planting them as late as March 29.

My fingers get pretty sore nicking both ends of each seed with an emery board, to aid germination, before soaking them for 24 hours in lukewarm water, so last year I skipped that step, and I didn't think they did quite as well, but at least my fingertips weren't sore.

I just finished planting all of mine.

A tip: Purple and blue colored sweet peas are the most fragrant variety. Red ones are gorgeous but tend to fade in the sun.

There is a knee high kind that doesn't need a trellis to grow on.

Regular sweet peas grow nicely on a chicken wire fence.

The more you pick the blossoms once they start to bloom, the better they bloom.

They need lots of water in the summer.

 

[swampducks]

Thanks for all the tips GG. I really can't remember what I did with the sweet peas when I lived in northern VA, I don't think I soaked them, but I truly can't remember! I did plant them in the back yard at the base of the deck, around the posts holding it up. maybe the pressure treated lumber was bad for them? They never sprouted. But it was clay soil, the kind all around a newly built house so it was nasty stuff and VA gets hot fast so I think there was too much going against them.

As for MI being cool, I used to think so too, but it hit 77.5 yesterday, saying 75 today, 81 then 82, looks like Saturday and Sunday it's dropping back into the 50s but then back up to ridiculously warm temps. But, by the end of the week the lows are dropping back into the 30s rather than the upper 40s, that ought to be good for sweet peas, yes?

When I go into town at the end of the month, maybe I'll buy a pack and see. Depends on the weather. Thanks again.

 

[AllyRodrigues]

Whew, now I'm a little worried. I'm a newbie gardener but planted sugar snap peas along my picket fence (probably 50 plants)..They are about 3 inches tall now...Those of you who haven't been successful, has it been with sprouting or something afterwards?

I'd be so disappointed if something went awry before I get to eat some!

 

[lesa]

Ally, if they are already up and looking good- you should be all set! Just wait, and enjoy!

 

[AllyRodrigues]

Oh good, my 4 year old son and I spent all day planting and he's so excited at the concept of just picking them off the plant and eating them!

 

[lesa]

I did manage to cook peas quite a bit last year- but an awful lot of them got snacked on outside! What fun to share gardening with a little one!