Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Sweet peas require cool conditions to perform — soil temperature at planting should be 45–65°F. They prefer a deeply prepared, humus-rich soil with pH 7.0–7.5; add garden lime if your soil is acidic. Soak seeds overnight in water or nick the hard coat with a nail file to improve germination rate, which otherwise can be erratic. Sow 1 inch deep, 3 inches apart, then thin to 6–8 inches. In mild climates, sow in autumn for spring flowering; in cold climates, sow in late winter indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost. Provide a trellis, netting, or brush sticks immediately — they grip with tendrils and climb 5–6 feet. Water deeply but infrequently, letting the top inch dry between waterings; sweet peas hate sitting in wet soil but need consistent moisture during flowering. Feed with high-potassium fertilizer (tomato feed) every 2 weeks once the first buds appear. Never let plants set seed — deadhead obsessively or cut armfuls for indoors.