Does Anyone have experience growing perennial sweet pea ( Lathyrus latifolius) in Texas? I haven't had good luck growing annual sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus).
If someone has any advice on growing it please let me know.
Thanks,
Siggy
perennial sweet pea
I have not heard anything about this one in Texas doing good, we just get to hot.
I know thwe annual type can't take the heat. I was hoping that the perennial sweet pea would be tougher. Since they originate from Sicily.
If you find one that will make it let me know I would love them here!
75154,
I have no idea whether they will work here. It may just be wishful thinking on my part. But as soon as I find Lathyrus odoratus I'll try it out.
I have tried soooo many Northern plants here for my wife that never grow, with all that death I try to find someone who can grow them first and then try them myself. Saves a lot of crushed dreams...
Mitch
I hear that! You'd think after my failures with lupines, digitalis ect. I would have learned by now :) But I like experimenting.
That is nothing - I blew it big time... at my wifes grandfathers estate she wanted one of his liliacs, asked me will it grow? Sure I said I can get anything to grow! Sorry me when the heat hit the bush died and I was in hot water... that was the last plant to die for lack of me checking here first for everything - yes everything before I plant it!
I grow the annual sweet peas quite successfully. I start with small plants (4" pots), not seeds, planted late fall/early winter. They are heavenly in the early Spring garden, when other perennials are just getting started. Even thought they last just the one season, they are worth it! This year's group is growing up the trellis right now.
Thanks Mary - maybe I am just trying this in the wrong season.
You're a little (little) colder than me, so maybe you would plant at a different time. Do your local nurseries carry the sweet peas in 4" pots? They probably carry them when the time is right to plant. (Local nurseries, not the box stores.)
I might stroll down there and see when they are going to have them.
Thanks Maggiemoo,
I"ll try starting some indoors. I've never seen Sweet Peas at nurserys up here (I mean other than seeds).
Perennial sweet peas are very easy here. In fact, I tried to move some and their roots were the size of my arms.
They went very deep, too. I would suggest you be very certain where you want them, before you plant them, because they'll be there forever.
They also grew and bloomed very well, but by summer their foliage looked really ratty.
That is when hubby took the strimmer to them, and they always came back unaffected by the trim.
We no longer have them because we did some contruction in that spot, but when the backoe dug them up, I couldn't believe the roots!!
-T
Both are easy for me--the annuals must be grown over winter and the perennial one started from stratified seeds.
This message was edited May 16, 2006 7:12 PM
I have had one for several years. Unfortunately the spot I planted it in has gotten really shady but it still blooms. Just not as much. It is in full bloom now. I also grow the annuals but for some reason out of 3 packages of seed I did not get one seed to germinate this past winter. Must have done something really wrong.
Patsy