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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
Annuals
Sweet
Peas
No
single bouquet will get more acclaim than a bunch of sweet
peas. Sweet peas do very well in our maritime climate. They
don’t like really hot summers—not generally our
problem!  As
a general rule, the taller varieties are sweeter smelling
than the knee-highs, and the older ones more fragrant than
most of the new. Colors range from pure white, to red, shell
pink, and salmon, to lavenders and blues, to bicolors with
mahogany, buff, or yellow.
Sweet
peas can be planted in very early spring. Some folks say to
plant them President’s Day—some say St. Patrick’s
Day. In cool springs, they can be planted later—or plant
starts are available here at Sky for transplanting.
Select
a site with full sun and good air circulation—Sweet Peas
are susceptible to powdery mildew. The soil should be well
drained and rich in organic matter—amend with compost
or Whitney Farm Planting Mix, and add bone and alfalfa meal.
Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting,
or else carefully scarify each seed with a knife or nail file.
After soaking or scarifying, treat the seeds with a legume
inoculant. Spacing depends on the variety you choose—usually
1" to 6". Plant about 2" deep. Germination
usually takes 14-21 days.
Two
very important things you must do at the time of planting.
The first is to place your supports, whether fence, trellis,
netting, or bamboo stakes. The second is to protect the tender
sprouts from predators like mice and slugs. Chances are, if
you thought you had poor germination, you had slugs eating
the plants before you even saw them! Here at Sky we now have
slug bait that’s safe for pets and wildlife.
English
enthusiasts have Sweet Pea competitions each year, and many
of their favorites are now available here. Come in, browse
our seed packages, and lose yourself.
By Cathy Revell
Skylights Winter/Spring 2001, Vol 15, No. 1
Other
articles on annuals
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