"Grow Your Own Sweet Peas" Growing sweet peas in your garden isn't a specialist project. Anyone can do it, given the right conditions and a little TLC!
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties and they come in so many beautiful colours and 'designs', there really is something for everyone! ************************************* Thompson and Morgan have pages of seeds available....  'Bright and Breezy'  'Firecrest'
This is the US link Sweet Peas in the US at Thompson and Morgan For all other countries start from their homepage! Thompson and Morgan Homepage
They smell wonderful and before you plant you could consider positioning them in a place where their smell will be most appreciated. Let them climb over a garden seating area or a place where you regularly pass by and can enjoy the glorious smells and colours. Make sure the plants will be accessible so you can feed and care for them later on. Choose a sunny position and a fairly rich well-drained soil. Soak the seed for a couple of hours before planting to help speed up the germination process. Sow the seed about one and a half inches deep and about 4-6 inches apart then water well - in Spring, as soon as the soil has warmed up. *Watch out for mice at this stage* Seed can be planted earlier in the year in pots and kept inside until ready to plant out in the spring. Check on the seed packet for advise with your particular variety. Many varieties are climbing vine types and should have access to a support system: perhaps a trellis or a line of canes. The plants can grow as tall as 8 or 9 feet. Some sweet pea varieties are bushy types and will grow without any support systems. Check on your seed packet before buying so you know what you need to do to get the most out of your sweet pea flowers.
 The next step: Once your seed is sown, keep the soil moist and weed-free. The seedlings should be thinned to about 6 - 12 inches apart if necessary.
Once the support system is in place and the seedlings are growing, all you need to do is watch out for slugs and birds, and keep the soil moist and weed-free. Try mulching when the soil is fairly warm and damp. This helps keep the weeds down and the soil moist during dry periods. Make sure the seedlings are grabbing hold of your support canes or trellis. If not, gently coil the plants round the canes or tie gently with a natural twine. In windy spots, you may need to continue to tie to the supports as the plants grow to prevent them from breaking in the wind.
When the flowers begin to fade and die, it's best to 'dead-head' them ( pinch out the blooms that are dying, or trim with a sharp pair of secateurs ). The plant will go on to produce more flowers and you will find you can stretch out the flowering season much longer than if you leave the plants to their own devices! They are quite heavy feeders and will benefit from an organic fertilizer feed every two-four weeks if you can manage it.
Sweet peas are colourful and often highly scented. Two good reasons to enjoy them everywhere. Cut a few blooms to decorate the sunday lunch table or enjoy the colour in the kitchen - cut flowers around the home create a wonderful outdoor feeling indoors! NB: Some varieties can be planted in the autumn and 'over-wintered' to produce very early blooms - double check on your variety before you buy!
Happy Gardening! More "Flower" Reading
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