HOW TO GROW SWEET PEAS FROM SEED

Sweet peas have been grown for cut flowers since before the Victorian period and for good reason too. Heavenly scented and available in a huge range of cultivars (many of which have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of garden Merit), they are easy to grow and if you have a mind to, easy to produce your own cultivars.

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Sweet pea seeds are sown either in September, sometimes even as late as November, and then again in March. Be aware though that the seed coats of many sweet pea varieties are considerably thick which unless dealt with will prevent germination. Therefore it is important to always either nick the seed coat or soak in warm water for 12 hours before planting.

Sow sweet pea seeds ½" deep in deep modular seed trays containing a good quality compost such as John Innes 'Seed and Cutting'. Place in a heated propagator at a temperature of  around 20 degrees Celsius and place in a bright position, but one that is out of direct sunlight. Alternatively seal the tray in a clear polythene bag and keep in a warm room.

Germination should take between 10-21 days and once the seedlings emerge, remove them from the propagate and grow them on in a cool, frost-free, bright position until the roots have established within the module. Discard any weak plants.

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At this point they can be carefully popped out of the module and potted on into 3 inch pots containing John Innes 'No1'.  Water in and grow them on until they reach about 4 inches height, at which point they can be pinched out. Move to cold frame for a few weeks to harden off before planting out into their final position. September sown plants should be planted out in April, March sown plants can be planted outside in May.

Alternatively, sow sweet pea seeds directly in their permanent flowering site in September, October or March and thin out to the strongest seedlings in April.

Autumn sown plants generally give the best results, but will need cloche protection in colder climates. Pinch out the tips of October grown plants in February, and remove cloches in April.