It’s time to plant your sweet peas

As a hobby gardener, there’s a special joy in collecting seeds from your garden’s treasures, creating a connection between seasons and a sense of continuity.

I have grown Sweet Peas for as long as I can remember. In our last house they flourished over the garden shed standing taller than me at 6ft!

I missed out the year we moved into The Lodge but last year I grabbed a packet and planted some. Not expecting too much as it was a quick makeshift flower bed with some canes made into a wigwam… colour me shocked when I ended up with over 50 plants growing! I had zero room for them so I let them go wild in their little 2ft square patch with the intent to collect all of the seeds for this years crop.

Collecting sweet pea seeds

To collect sweet pea seeds, allow the pods to mature on the vine until they turn brown and begin to rattle. Harvest them on a dry day, ensuring the pods are fully dry before storing.

Storing the seeds

After collecting the seeds, store them in a cool, dry place in paper envelopes (I use old paper sweet bags left over from our wedding) or breathable containers. This prevents moisture build-up, reducing the risk of mold or premature germination.

Germination

I used to opt for a straight in the ground approach but this year after seeing a couple of people recommend it I went with the damp kitchen paper in a takeaway style container and left on a window or in the greenhouse. (I tried both options..!)

Moving on

I have been asking friends and family to collect toilet roll tubes for the past year so I can use them for seedlings in the greenhouse. Once the seeds had germinated, I made a tray full of tubes up with compost in and stood them in one of my seed trays. Plant 2-3 in each tube and keeping damp.

Transplanting

Once the sweet pea seedlings have developed strong roots and a few sets of leaves, transplant them into larger pots or directly into the garden. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Some people like to pinch out sweet peas to make them grow out instead of up. I’m going to try the pinch out method this year when I have a dedicated space to see the difference.

Outdoor Transition

Before transplanting seedlings into the garden, gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions by exposing them to sunlight and cooler temperatures over several days.

Providing Support

Sweet peas are climbers, and as they grow, they’ll need support structures. I have previously used string, canes, and trellis. This year though I’ve got plans for Scott to make something I found on pinterest..!

Wait for the blooms

As the sweet pea seedlings mature and flowers develop – the hard work truly begins! Cutting the flowers regularly produces more flowers, the more you cut the more you get – and when you stop you’ll find the vine goes to seed and produces seed pods instead.