(Scroll down for descriptions of available varieties)
• At least four hours of full sun for best flower production
• Tolerant of all but the heaviest clay soils
• Requires regular watering
• Pollinators like the flowers and so do the deer!
• Design group: 2 or 3, depending on how the vines are trained
• Appetite for neglect: 3
There are many differences in how people perceive the scent of flowers, but I have never come across anyone who can resist the sweet, fresh fragrance of sweet peas. Vines of these varieties will grow to between six and eight feet long, but can easily be fit into a more compact space by winding them around a trellis or obelisk. For a lovely natural look, lash three or four branches together at the top to form a tripod or tetrapod. Branches should be at least four feet long. If you wish to take advantage of their full height, plant them against some wide woven netting (squares in the netting should be at least four inches wide and tall, both for the plant’s sake and to avoid a nightmare situation when pulling the vines down at the end of the season). No structure for them to climb? No problem! Sweet peas look fabulous (and unexpected) cascading down the sides of a hanging basket.
Pinching
All sweet peas may be pinched when they have four to six sets of leaves on the stem. ("Pinching" is a common trick with some species of plants which promotes fuller, bushier growth. To pinch a plant, locate the little nub where the stem is growing out from the top two leaves, and pinch or snip it off. Voila, you're done! The plant will respond to the message that upward growth is not the best route by producing more lateral - or sideways - growth, resulting in a lovely full appearance.)
Sweet peas will bloom for much longer if you keep the flowers picked, so go ahead and cut them all - your house will smell divine and your plant will be refreshed! For longest vase life, cut stems when there are still a couple of blooms at the top of the flower stalk that have not opened. If possible, keep cut sweet peas out of direct sunlight.
Pests
Once sweet peas are off and growing, the main challenge they present comes in the form of aphids. 2019 was a horrible year for aphid pressure on Vancouver Island, and we have a sneaking suspicion that 2020 won't be much better. Consider using insecticidal soap to keep them under control before they become a serious problem. If a problem does arise, there is a widely available product called Safer's End-All which is very effective for aphids. The active ingredient in End-All is pyrethrin, which is an extract from the chrysthanthemum plant (otherwise known as mums). Pyrethrin is approved for use on certified organic farms. Be aware that, like anything that is effective against the bad guys, pyrethrin will hard the good guys too. To minimize risk to beneficial insects, be sure to harvest every last flower from the plant before application; pyrethrin is only effective for a few hours, so the danger will have passed by the time the next bee-attracting flowers emerge. We are grateful for the advice of a bee-keeping friend, who recommended some additional safeguards for our pollinators: apply only in the evening or the very early morning and, whenever possible, apply when temperatures are forecast to stay above 15 degrees for four hours following application.
Saving seeds
Consider leaving flowers on the plant to develop seeds at the end of the season (late August). Seeds develop in little seed pods that look quite a bit like snap peas (but don't eat them!). Leave the seed pods on the plant until they turn brown and feel dry. Once they reach this point, harvest them promptly - if left too long they will split and eject the seeds. When you cut the seed pods off, use scissors or clippers to avoid tugging on the plant and shaking seeds out of the other pods. Place seed pods a paper bag for a couple of days (this will draw out excess moisture and encourage the pods to open). When you're ready to separate the seeds, give the bag a shake, then dump it out onto a baking sheet with sides (to prevent the seeds from rolling all over the place). Pick the large round seeds out from the pods and put them in a small paper bag or paper envelope. Do not store seeds in plastic or there is a good chance you'll just wind up with a bag of mold.
If you are growing several varieties of sweet peas and wish to keep their seeds separate when you collect them, be sure to tag the plants while the plants are flowering so that you know which is which at harvest time. The development of seed pods will greatly slow down flower production, and absent any blooms you may find yourself hard-pressed to tell the different types apart.
‘April in Paris’ throws gorgeous cream flowers, edged with a pale purple that deepens to a darker purple as the bloom ages. Among the most strongly-scented sweet peas.
'Cupani' is one of the oldest known sweet pea varieties. Truly romantic in person, its sweetly-scented blooms are deep purple with lavender wings.
'Mrs. Collier' is a very old, free-flowering variety. Blooms open a pale chartreuse and age to a creamy white. Strongly-scented.
‘North Shore’ offers bi-coloured blooms, with dark purple petals and pale violet wings. Lovely long stems for cutting. Late-spring blooming, strongly-scented.
'Royal Family Pink' and 'Royal Family Blue' are mid-season bloomers and a familiar sight to most people. The Royal Family series is one of the best-loved varieties in the world.
'Streamers Mix' throws very interesting white blooms streaked with lavender, apricot, pink or the occasional carmine. Eye-catching in the garden, and very jazzy mixed with solid colours in vase.
‘Zinfandel’ blooms are dark purple with cranberry tones, with purple wings. They are stunning set against the pale green of the foliage. The scent is very strong. 'Zinfandel' will bloom in early spring.
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