Starting Sweet Peas

A simple method using simple supplies, for starting sweet peas.

Sweet Peas are one of my most favourite flowers! They look so delicate and pretty, and their scent is out of this world amazing, so I try to plant them in my garden every year.

Over the years, I have been experimenting with different ways to grow them. I’ve done them in different pots, I’ve done the bush variety, I’ve tried different spots for sun. But hands down the best Sweet Peas that I have ever grown, were the ones from last year.

On a whim I planted them along our fence, in a tiny strip no wider than 3 inches, and wow! Did they ever grow fabulously! I had flowers from early summer all the way until the 3rd week in October! So, needless to say, this is the way for me!

I usually like to start them from seed, directly outside around the beginning of April. But this year, because our winter was so harsh, and we had so much snow, I couldn’t even get outside to do this in April. And I haven’t really been feeling too inspired to garden as of late, but it was time to get these in the ground.

So today, after a little inspiration from my Mom, I went outside and planted them! I can’t wait to see their pretty little faces and smell them in all the rooms of my home!

Here’s How-To:

Since this spot is the most sunny and warm area in my yard, it’s ideal for Sweet Peas. Here are the details:

I put up a plastic green netting that I bought in the garden centre. Or, you can also use chicken wire.
The netted area is about 8 feet wide, and 7 feet tall.
I just stapled the netting directly on to the fence.

It looks ugly now, but once the flowers get growing, you won’t even see it. The flowers will cover the whole thing! Trust me.

Then I cleared out a spot along the fence filled it with soil. Amazingly, Sweet Peas don’t need much room to grow. As long as they have a lot of sun they are happy!
Then I planted my seeds, every 2 inches, and about a 1/2 inch deep (I followed the package directions).