Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Lathyrus odoratus. |
Common name |
Sweet Pea. |
Family |
Fabaceae. |
Origin |
Mediterranean regions. |
Dimensions |
From 1 to 2 m in height. Their growth is rapid. |
Foliage |
Lapsed. Smooth green leaves, composed of a pair of symmetrical oval leaflets and fine tendrils allow the climbing plant to cling. |
Bloom |
From June to September. Clusters of butterfly-shaped flowers measuring 2 to 4 cm, white, pink, red, blue, purple and sometimes two-tone. |
Exposure |
Sun to partial shade. |
Ground |
Rich, light and well drained. |
Rusticity |
0°C, very sensitive to frost. |
Sweet peas come in various varieties with changing characteristics.
It's up to you to find your favorites!
The most beautiful varieties of sweet peas
'Cupani'
, features very fragrant two-tone flowers in shades of deep purple and burgundy;
'Matucana'
has flowers in bright shades of purple and red with a scent reminiscent of orange blossom or honey;
'King Size Navy Blue'
is distinguished by its large, deep blue flowers;
'Elegance Pink'
offers delicate pink flowers with a subtle fragrance;
'Spencer Ripple'
forms large curly flowers in varied colors;
'Fire and Ice'
is a hardy variety with two-tone white and bright red flowers;
'Little Sweetheart' is
not a climbing variety, it does not exceed 40cm, ideal for growing in pots.
Sweet peas are not demanding plants;
however they
cannot tolerate the slightest frost.
This is why they are generally grown in France as annual plants.
There is, however, a variety called perennial pea (
Lathyrus latifolius)
which resists frost very well but has no odor.
Sweet peas cannot tolerate frost.
Copyright (c) 2023 Kristine Rad/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
Also read All articles on protecting your garden and plants against the cold
Where to plant sweet peas?
Sweet peas like to be in
full sun or partial shade
to avoid the scorching sun.
The soil is ideally rich and light with sufficient drainage.
Do not hesitate to add compost before planting.
In the garden, sweet peas take place in different ways but they need
a support to climb
.
They can thus be displayed in a hedge, in a flowerbed, isolated or even in a pot for the smallest species.
When and how to plant sweet peas?
Sweet pea seeds can be sown directly in the ground from mid-spring,
once all risk of frost has passed.
For an earlier start, sow the seeds under cover at the end of winter.
The plants will then be transplanted outside.
Prepare seeds by soaking seeds in water for 24 hours to soften the hard husk and speed germination;
Sow the seeds about 2 to 3 cm deep, spacing them 10 to 15 cm apart;
If you sow in rows, keep a distance of 30 to 45 cm between rows.
Indoors, use individual pots filled with quality potting soil.
Sow
1 or 2 seeds per pot
and keep them in a bright, warm place.
Spread a mulch of coconut husks at the base of your sweet peas!
Not only is it very pretty and this layer will retain moisture, keep out weeds whilst providing a nutrient boost.
In the garden, sweet peas take place in different ways but they need a support to climb.
Copyright (c) 2021 Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
How to properly care for sweet peas?
Watering:
Sweet peas require regular watering because they like to keep the roots in cool (but not soggy) soil;
Fertilization:
for optimal flowering, you can add a balanced fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season;
Diseases and pests:
Powdery mildew, rust or gray rot can affect sweet peas, especially in humid weather.
Aphids and slugs are also common pests.
Optimize air circulation, use traps, spray soapy water or antifungal manure to avoid these inconveniences.
In late summer, the flowers turn into seed pods.
Let them dry then harvest in the fall in order to sow them the following year.