The world needs more sweet peas. I think.
And apparently not just me - in England a special society was actually founded for them - The National Sweet Pea Society.
I love them (the English and the sweet peas).
Here you can see CUPANI , one of the oldest sweet peas ever.
Photo: Flora Press/Visions
It is also called “fragrant pea” and is actually related to the vegetables on our plates.
So. Now close your eyes and imagine strolling through your garden. Imagine how every step brings the seductive, sweet scent of the carefree summer.
And in real life it's even better.
Strangely enough, it took a few years for sweet peas to grow in my garden (I have no idea why, but somehow I hadn't noticed them). But now, year after year, there are more and more of them. And new varieties are constantly being added.
Beautiful Erewhon (you can get the seeds HERE )
Photo: Flora Press/Garden Photo World/Georgianna Lane
COLORFUL FENCES AND FRAGRANT BEDS
From brilliant white to delightful pink, gorgeous pink, red, dark red and crisp blue (or even very delicate pastel) to dramatic purple and almost black (the variety is actually called " Almost Black "), these annual, lushly flowering climbers bring romance and lightness to your garden and the colors of summer to your bouquet.
Photo: Flora Press/Garden Photo World/Georgianna Lane
Photos: Janina Laszlo
You can get these sweet peas HERE .
Over the course of a season, their flowers can charmingly "beautify" an ugly chain link fence or other objects (worth hiding).
Sweet peas in pots also enhance balconies and terraces. A great dwarf sweet pea (it only grows to around 40 cm high) is " Cupid Pink ", great for pots.
They bloom from June until well into autumn, and depending on the variety they can grow up to two metres tall. The climbers need support or a climbing aid. This can be branches, string, wire or, what looks particularly pretty, when they stretch their colourful heads up on a fence. Preferably on a picket fence, of course. Or on a white wooden slatted fence.
 
FIRST A SENTENCE ON SOWING: The National Sweet Pea Society website contains the following sentence:
"Hints on Growing - It was originally intended that this Section should be headed "How to Grow" but since there are so many opinions from different people, many of them contradictory, it is considered that there is no "right" way and so what follows is more properly considered to be hints."
Translated:
"Notes on sowing - Originally this section was supposed to have the heading "The correct sowing", but since there are many, partly contradictory opinions on this topic, we assume that there is no "right" way and limit ourselves to for clues."
I love them. The English. Did I mention that?
And this is how sowing works for me:
SOWING IN THE HOUSE
You can grow sweet peas indoors and start early in the year. Or even as early as early autumn and then let them overwinter under fleece. Be careful of too much frost - a greenhouse would be ideal.
Use tall pots from the start, sweet peas quickly grow deep roots and are grateful when they can stretch out their little feet.
Very important, soak the seeds overnight (this softens the seed coat and the vetch germinates faster and more reliably) and only then plant them. And yes - it makes a difference how quickly they germinate. The video proof is HERE .
 
They need light (ideally plant lamps) and a kind word every now and then.
Never let the seeds dry out.
The young seedlings are then placed outside. Gradually get them used to the colder outside temperature.
This year (it's very mild) I've had my sweet peas outside since the beginning of April. If there's another real frost coming, I'll cover them with fleece.
SOWING OUTDOORS
Of course, you can also sow them outside without any problems.
Again, soak the seeds in water overnight.
Then sow the seeds about 1.5 centimeters deep into the prepared soil or pot (you can also use seed pots and then plant them in the bed later) and water well. The first plants usually appear after five to ten days.
I prefer to grow my sweet peas indoors in warmer temperatures, but as soon as they start to peek out of the soil, they come out.
If you have sown them directly into the bed, the seedlings (from about 10 cm in size) should be spaced 20 - 30 cm apart.
In principle, sweet peas can also be sown in late summer/early autumn (in milder regions this is even highly recommended), then they will flower up to six weeks earlier and for longer the following year. If you have a greenhouse, this is also an option, but they should be kept cool (they can withstand light frost, so it is best to cover them).
PINCHING
If you want a bushier and more lush growth, trim the top of the plant after the second or third pair of leaves. This encourages the side shoots to grow more. I don't pinch all of them, but let a few just grow because I'm curious and like to observe the difference. (Update: I didn't notice a big difference last year.)
LOCATION AND CARE
As far as the location is concerned, sweet peas like a sunny spot, but if necessary they will tolerate partial shade. Too much draft (a place sheltered from the wind would be ideal) and above all waterlogging should be avoided. Apparently even blazing midday sun is good - I have not had this experience.
Be sure to water it during dry periods. Regular fertilization will reward it with unbeatable abundance of flowers.
Ideally, the plants should be covered with nutrient-rich soil when they are about 10 cm high. They will then form new roots and be able to absorb more food and water.
The best thing to do is to prepare the soil for them with compost or well-rotted manure. They will thank you with lots of flowers. They also need regular water. A drip hose would be ideal.
And very important:
Cut off lots of flower stems (in the morning!) for your summer table. The more you cut, the more flowers the sweet pea will give you. Ideally, you shouldn't let it set seeds, otherwise it will soon stop flowering. Or translated into "wickish": My job is done. I have reproduced, now I don't need any more flowers.
PERENNIALS
And if annual sowing is too much work for you, you should take a look at perennial vetch Just as charming - but without the scent.
The cultivation works very similarly.
 
Photo: Janina Laszlo
But I did have to laugh at this sentence from the National Sweet Pea Society: "Germination can take anything between two weeks and two years, so be patient."
For me it worked quickly this year (after just two weeks!).
But now I am very grateful.
 
Are you having trouble deciding? Then take a look at the sweet pea mix I have put together for you: