I remember last year there was a very long discussion about sweet peas, but I didn't get clued in about them until it was too late to plant. Who can tell me when to plant and approx. how tall they grow? Do they like full sun or morning sun/afternoon shade? I'd also like to see your pics, if you have any.
I have read plant files, but sometimes it's nice to get the scoop from people "in the know" so to speak.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54280/
Who Can Tell me about Growing Sweet Peas??
I haven't grown sweet peas here in central Texas, but did grow them very well when we lived in Duncanville...the cultivars vary as to size, but the ones that were given to be as a species, grew 20 foot or more...I put them along the east side of an old shed (8'x20'). I planted in February (as per my friend's instructions) and by April they were up and moving quickly....clinging to the old wood in the shed. They did not quite cover the shed by end of season...but that was a long time ago, our weather has changed...I think I would plant in January now.
I do remember that I was given the advice not to amend the soil, but to cover the plants will leaves when they came up. My friend had gardened in that area for more than 50 years at that time and her advice never seemed to fail...we had an abundance of sweet peas...the scent could be detected for 4 houses either way in the neighborhood. I regret sincerely not keeping seeds of hers because I am sure they were species. The colors were a soft burgandy, pink and white mixture....now an then a plant would be a solid color of dark pink. I don't know if they were the perennial type or not since we moved after that one summer.
hi-
I had tried for years with no success, but never could grow them when trying to follow the packet instructions(march to april), but a neighbor had some gorgeous ones growing. So, I asked her secret.
She said plant in November when everyone is putting out their rye grass seeds.
I tried it, and had gorgeous sweet peas. I planted them on my mailbox, and in part sun.
It was just all about planting at the right time. Same goes for poppies, she said...november
;0)
This message was edited Aug 23, 2009 7:42 AM
Pretty poppies! I have more poppy seeds to sow this fall. I've ordered some sweet pea seeds and will put them out in the fall as well.
Stephanie,I'm in the Dallas area and I have found that when I plant them after thanksgiving they do well until it gets warm and then they start dying out.