Grow Scented Sweet Peas

In warm areas, sow seeds in the autumn; in colder parts sow in spring in a warm greenhouse or on a windowsill. Plant outside in an open, sunny area.

When to Plant: autumn or early spring
At Their Best: summer
Time to Complete: 2-3 hours over several months

Materials Needed:

• sweet pea seeds
• sharp penknife or nail clippers
• deep seed trays or root trainers
• seed soil

• well-composted organic matter
• obelisk or bamboo canes
• garden twine
• all-purpose liquid fertilizer

Chip the Seed

Sweet pea seeds have a hard shell, and unless water can penetrate it, the seeds won't germinate. To ensure the seed absorbs water, use a sharp knife or nail clippers to carefully nick it opposite the "eye" (small, round scar) and remove a small piece of the seed coat.

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Sow Seed

In fall in warm climates, fill trays or pots with seed soil and sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep. Keep the seedlings in a cool greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring, only providing extra heat during severe frosts. In mid-spring, remove the tip of the main shoot from each seedling.

Seedling Care

If you sow sweet peas in early spring, grow the seedlings indoors, or in a warm greenhouse, at 58–62 degrees F. When they reach 4-6 inches high, remove the tips down to the first set of leaves. Pinching out the tips like this encourages side shoots to form.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited