When should I sow my sweet pea seeds?
when to plant sweet peas. Sow sweet pea seeds between October and April. For best results aim for late October/November or late February/March as temperatures and light levels are less than ideal in midwinter. Sweet peas can also be sown direct into the ground in April or May.
Should you soak sweet pea seeds before planting?
Many people recommend soaking seeds overnight before sowing to help them germinate. This is because some varieties have a hard outer shell. However, others suggest that soaking may lead to weaker plants. Generally, sweet peas should germinate fine without any treatment.
Can you direct sow sweet peas?
Sweet Peas – Sowing Seeds Directly into the Garden: Technique Tips with Photos. In mild winter climates, where the ground does not freeze, sweet pea seeds should be fall-sown directly into the garden from September through November to grow strong root systems and then bloom in spring.
How deep do you sow sweet peas?
Use a good quality compost and sow several sweet pea seeds to a pot. Plant them about 1cm deep, cover with compost and water them well. Sweet peas perform best if their roots are forced to grow in a deep, narrow channel so choose a tall pot to give them a strong start.
Can I sow sweet peas in January?
Sweet peas are annuals and can be sown in the spring. However, as with sowing the seeds in October, a January sowing enables the plants to develop strong roots, put on some early growth and provide larger plants to set out after the frosts.
How long does it take sweet pea seeds to sprout?
10 to 28 days
Seeds take anywhere from 10 to 28 days to germinate completely, depending on weather and soil temperature. If your sweet peas do not germinate well, dig down to see if the seeds are still there. If they have rotted or been eaten, plant more right away as they will catch up quickly.
Do sweet peas need root trainers?
To sow the sweet peas, you will need long, thin pots known as root trainers – see Gro-sure Visiroot 4 Deep Cell Kit. Sweet peas like to grow long roots, so deep pots like these are perfect.
Should you direct sow peas?
Direct sow peas directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in spring or in late summer. Peas must mature before the weather gets hot. Late planting can cause poor results. For a spring crop, sow seeds in spring 8 to 6 weeks before the last frost.
What do you do with sweet peas in the winter?
Sweet peas can withstand temperatures of about -5 at night but will not like to be frozen in their pots all day. If you overdo it and lose the top growth, chances are, if you give them some warmth they will have established enough root to sprout again.
Why won’t my sweet pea seeds germinate?
Directly sown peas might not germinate in temperatures that are below 38F or above 75F. Waterlogged soil will cause pea seeds to rot. They may also fall prey to mice and birds. As I mentioned, peas should be easy to germinate, and there’s no need to oversow them like many other smaller seeds.
Is it too late to sow peas?
Pea seeds can be sown directly into the soil outdoors from February through to June. If the weather is unseasonably cold, start your peas off in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill, and transfer your seedlings into the garden when temperatures rise.
How many pea seeds are in a hole?
Always add at least 2 pea seeds per hole. Even 3–4 seeds per hole is fine. Planting just one seed could leave you without any peas growing in that spot. Peas only have a 60 to 80% germinate rate, after all.
Is November too late to sow sweet peas?
You can sow anytime from early October to mid November when the days allow for a long gentle germination.
How far apart do peas need to be planted?
Spacing Requirements Seeds should be planted at a depth of ½–1 inch and between 2–3 inches apart. Space rows of peas at least 18 inches apart.