For a summer, sweet peas transform the garden into a frenzy of colorful flowers and seductive scent. Thanks to the uncomplicated sowing, you can treat yourself to this feast for the senses every year. Read here how to sow sweet peas correctly.
How can I sow sweet peas correctly?
To sow sweet peas correctly, prepare a fine, crumbly seedbed in fresh, moist, nutrient-rich soil in April. Soak the seeds in a water bath beforehand. Place 2-3 seeds per planting spot 4-5 cm deep in the soil and cover them with 5 cm of soil.
Direct sowing tops cultivation on the windowsill
You can sow sweet peas behind glass in pots from March onwards. In this case, however, the seedlings have to endure the rigors of pricking out and planting. This stress comes at the expense of vitality and flowering. It is better if you wait until April to sow seeds directly in the bed.
Step-by-step instructions
In a sunny location, prepare a fine, crumbly seedbed in fresh, moist and nutrient-rich soil. The seeds will find ideal starting conditions if you lightly rake sifted compost into the soil surface. The seeds spend the night before sowing in a water bath to pre-swell. How to proceed:
- Draw furrows 30 cm apart in the prepared seedbed and have a depth of 4-5 cm
- Put 2 seeds into the soil 5 cm apart
- Cover the seed rows with soil to a maximum height of 5 cm and water with a fine spray
If you do not arrange sweet peas in rows, please plant 3 seeds per planting spot 5 cm deep in the loose soil and water. To protect against voracious pests and pecking birds, spread a close-meshed net (€30.00 on Amazon) over the sowing.
Pricking and trimming – How to do it right
At a constant temperature of 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, the germination of sweet peas takes 2 to 3 weeks. From a height of 10 cm, select the strongest seedlings at a distance of 10-20 cm. Take the time now to deadhead each young sweet pea and encourage bushy growth. To do this, use your index finger and thumb to pinch off the shoot tip up to the first pair of vital leaves.
Tip
Looking at the romantic flowers, we can hardly believe that sweet peas are closely related to peas. Both species are legumes. Scientists therefore simply refer to the flower beauty as the 'fragrant sweet pea'. Apart from their botanical relationship, there is nothing that connects the two plants today.