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FAQs
Sweet Pea Summary
Lathyrus odoratus
- Uses: Annual flowering climber
- Good Points: Free flowering from May to September, scented, a wide range of colours, excellent cutting flower
- Position: Best in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil with climbing support
- Growth: Up to 2 metres
Seedlings are sold in multi-plug packs of four, or eight where available.
Delivery is sometimes delayed by weather, but is generally between the end of February and mid-June. We will email you the likely delivery timeframe when you order, and again when the plants are on their way.
Please note that annual plants are not covered by our year guarantee, because they are not supposed to last that long!
Set up the climbing support before planting, a wigwam of tall bamboo canes or hazel branches is great. Wire/netting/twine between the supports helps the stems spread out nicely. Prepare the soil well, incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter like Rocketgro Soil Improver.
In pots of at least 3-4 litres per plant, an ideal planting medium is 50% compost, 40% topsoil and 10% well-rotted manure. Plain general-purpose compost will do, but then feed it a touch more frequently in the growing season or you'll have fewer flowers.
Space seedlings 10-15cm apart and 5cm from their supports. Plant deep enough to accommodate the longest root and so the soil is at the level of the first side shoot.
As they grow, check for loose stems at least once a week and tie them into the frame or wrap them between supports so their self-clinging ability can take over.
Sweet Peas are thirsty and hungry plants, so water well enough that the surrounding soil never dries out.
They will cope with a little shade, but flower better in full sun.
Pick the flowers regularly and deadhead the ones you don't pick, so that they do not form seedpods and thus stop flowering for the year.
As you collect flowers and dead head, tie in stray stems.
Sweet peas fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, so feed with a high phosphate and potash fertiliser (i.e. phosphorous & potassium) like Tomorite during the growing season, especially on poor sandy soil.
- The best seeds are hand selected for sowing.
- They are grown in ideal compost, with gentle slow-release fertiliser: excellent root development, without an overly tall, leggy seedling.
- They are germinated in ideal conditions: large, airy, cool polytunnel. A touch of frost is allowed in, but it never freezes hard.
- We use special plugs from which their roots can grow away rapidly & deeply, without disturbance when planted.
- Our packaging gets your plants to you in top condition.
- Our Year Guarantee does not apply to annual plants.