How to Grow Sweet Pea
'Sweet Dreams' from Seed
A scented blend in soft pinks, lilacs, pale blues and creams, put together for fragrance first. A single row can crop for two months.
'Sweet Dreams' is a sweet pea blend chosen above all for scent. The colours run through soft pink, lilac, pale blue and cream, all gentle shades that sit together easily in a jug. The flowers are pretty, but the real reason to grow it is the smell when you carry a bunch indoors.
Sweet peas ask a little more than most annuals: deep, rich soil, something sturdy to climb and water at the roots in dry spells. Give them that, pick constantly, and a single row will crop for around two months.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy annual climber
Sowing Time
Oct to Nov · Jan to Mar, under cover
Flowering
June to August
Position
Full sun
Support
Canes, netting or obelisk
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Plant
'Sweet Dreams' is a blend of Lathyrus odoratus varieties selected for strong fragrance and a harmonious pastel palette. Sweet peas are hardy annual climbers, clinging to supports with tendrils and flowering best in cool, bright early summer.
Because it is a blend, each plant will be slightly different, and a mixed bunch gives you several shades in one jug. The flowers are good for cutting, and cutting is what keeps them coming.
The one rule that matters
Pick constantly. Every pod allowed to form tells the plant its work is done, and flowering slows within days. Cut more than you think you need and give the surplus away.
When & How to Sow
Sow in autumn for strong early plants, or from January to March if you prefer. Sweet peas root deeply, so use root trainers or deep pots rather than shallow trays.
Prepare the bed early
While seedlings grow over winter, dig a trench or bed where they will go and fill it with compost or well-rotted manure. By spring it will have settled and be ready to plant.
Sow 1 to 2cm deep. Sow into deep pots or root trainers of moist compost. Keep cool and bright, and out of reach of mice. Seedlings appear in two to three weeks.
Pinch out. When plants have three or four pairs of leaves, pinch out the tip for bushier plants with more flowering stems.
Plant out in spring. Harden off and plant out in March or April, 20 to 25cm apart, against supports about 1.8m tall.
Growing On Tips
Deep, rich ground
Plenty of compost dug in gives strong roots, long stems and a long season.
Sturdy supports
A full row of sweet peas is heavy. Use strong canes, netting or an obelisk that won't blow over.
Water the roots
Water deeply in dry spells and mulch to keep the soil cool and moist.
Pick every few days
Cut every open stem and remove pods before they swell.
Feed in flower
A high-potash liquid feed every week or two once flowering begins.
Enjoy the scent
Put small jugs by the bed or kitchen table, where the fragrance is most appreciated.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Flowering slows or stops | Pods left on the plant | Pick every few days and remove pods as soon as you see them. |
| Buds drop | Dry soil or cold nights | Water deeply and mulch around the plants. |
| Short, weak stems | Poor or dry soil | Dig in plenty of compost before planting and feed once flowering. |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew in late summer | Keep roots moist and remove affected growth. |
| Seeds or seedlings eaten | Mice, slugs | Sow where mice can't reach and protect young plants from slugs. |
When to Expect Flowers
Autumn sowings flower from June, late winter sowings a little later. With regular picking, expect flowers for around two months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
Pastel sweet peas chosen for scent
Sow in autumn or late winter, plant into rich soil against a sturdy support and pick constantly. You will have fragrant jugs of soft colour for two months.
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