If you’re a keen gardener, you’ll know that sweet peas are among the most popular flowers to grow. With their beautiful colors and enchanting fragrance, they have been a favorite in gardens for many years. In this guide, we’ll take a close look at how to grow and care for sweet peas, from planting seedlings to collecting seeds for the next season.
When it comes to growing sweet peas, quick and easy is the name of the game. Peter Sanderson, a gardening expert, has written a helpful guide on how to sow them in his book “The Sweet Pea Book”. He advises sowing the seeds in early spring, either indoors or directly in the garden. Sweet peas prefer full sun, so make sure you choose a sunny spot in your garden for optimal growth.
One important tip to remember when planting sweet pea seeds is to soak them in water overnight before sowing. This will help soften their hard coating and ensure a faster and more successful germination. Once the seeds have sprouted and the seedlings have grown a couple of inches tall, it’s time to transplant them into the garden.
When the sweet pea plants are growing, it’s important to provide them with proper support. Sweet peas are climbers and will happily grow up a trellis, fence, or any other structure you provide. Make sure to tie the stems to their support regularly, so they don’t become tangled or fall over. This will also encourage the plants to grow upwards, producing longer stems and more flowers.
In terms of care, sweet peas are relatively low maintenance. However, deadheading is essential to keep the plants blooming throughout the season. Deadheading involves removing spent flowers to prevent them from going to seed. By doing this, the plant’s energy is directed towards producing new flowers instead of developing seedpods. Deadheading is quite time-consuming, especially if you have a large sweet pea patch, but the results are worth it.
When it finally comes time to harvest the sweet peas, be sure to pick the flowers when they are in full bloom. They’ll be at their peak of freshness and fragrance. To collect sweet pea seeds for next year’s planting, allow some pods to form and swell on the plant. Once the pods have turned brown and dry, collect the seeds and store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to sow them again.
So there you have it – a complete guide on how to grow and care for sweet peas. Whether you have a small garden, an allotment, or even just a few pots on your kitchen windowsill, you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of these delightful flowers. Give them a try this year and reap the rewards of your labor!
“Sweet Peas are like no other plant. They are balm to the soul and gild the summer garden with their myriad blossoms.”
– Sue Thompson, The Sweet Pea Gardener
How to Harvest Sweet Pea Seeds
If you are a gardening enthusiast and want to learn how to collect and share sweet pea seeds, this guide is for you. Sweet peas are a popular and beautiful flower that can add color and fragrance to any garden or indoor space. Here are some tips on how to harvest sweet pea seeds:
- Wait for the sweet pea plants to form seedpods. This usually happens towards the end of the growing season when the flowers have wilted and the pods have started to swell.
- Pick the seedpods when they are dry and brown. You can do this by gently pulling the pods off the stem. Be careful not to damage the pods or the seeds inside.
- Open the seedpods to collect the seeds. You can do this by splitting the pods open with your fingers or by gently crushing them.
- Collect the seeds in a container, such as a small bowl or a paper envelope. Make sure to label the container with the date and the name of the sweet pea variety.
- If you want to store the seeds for a long time, you can place them in a sealed envelope or a glass jar with a desiccant, such as silica gel or rice.
- If you have collected seeds from heirloom or open-pollinated sweet pea varieties, you can save them for planting next year. Just make sure to store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat.
- If you plan to grow sweet pea plants from seeds indoors, you can start them in early spring. Soak the seeds overnight in water to soften the seed coat, then plant them in a seed tray filled with moist potting soil.
- When the seedlings have grown their second set of leaves, you can transplant them into individual pots or into a sunny spot in your garden.
- Care for the sweet pea plants by providing them with support, such as a trellis or a fence, as they grow. Water them regularly and deadhead the faded flowers to promote new blooms.
- Enjoy the beauty of your sweet pea plants and share the harvested seeds with other gardening enthusiasts. You can store the seeds in small envelopes and give them as gifts or trade them with other gardeners.
By following these simple steps, you can collect and store sweet pea seeds to ensure a bountiful and beautiful garden for years to come.
What You’ll Learn
In this article, you’ll learn about planting and growing sweet peas. You’ll find links to useful resources and get tips on how to care for these popular flowers. From collecting and storing seeds to transplanting seedlings and deadheading, you’ll discover all the tricks to grow sweet peas successfully.
First, you’ll learn about the different types of sweet peas, including heirloom and other varieties. You’ll find out when to sow the seeds and how to sow them indoors for an early start. You’ll also discover how to transplant the young plants to their final outdoor location.
Next, you’ll find out how to care for sweet peas. You’ll learn about providing them with the right amount of sunlight, water, and fertilizer. You’ll also learn about the importance of tying the stems to supports as they grow, and how to prune them to encourage more flowers.
You’ll also learn when and how to harvest sweet peas. You’ll find out how to pick the pods when they are fully swollen and how to collect the ripe seeds from the pods. You’ll also learn how to store the seeds for next year’s planting.
Finally, you’ll learn about common problems and pests that sweet peas may encounter. You’ll find out how to identify and treat issues such as aphids, powdery mildew, and wilt. You’ll also learn how to prevent these problems in the future.
By the time you’ve read this article, you’ll be equipped with all the knowledge and tips you need to successfully grow sweet peas in your garden or allotment. So let’s get started and learn all about sweet peas!
How Do You Collect Sweet Pea Seeds
Collecting sweet pea seeds is a simple task, but it does require some care. If you want to save seeds from your sweet pea plants, you’ll need to know when and how to collect them.
The first thing to keep in mind is that sweet pea seeds develop in the pods that form after the flowers have faded. You’ll need to let these seedpods mature and dry on the plant. As the seedpods dry, they’ll start to swell, and eventually turn brown and papery. Once the seedpods are fully dried, you can start collecting the seeds.
To collect the seeds, you can start by deadheading the mature seedpods. This means cutting off the seedpods from the plant using scissors or pruners. Be sure to hold the stem above the seedpod and cut just below it, as this will help prevent damage to the pods.
Once you’ve collected the seedpods, you can start removing the seeds. Gently break open the pods and separate the seeds from the dried plant material. Make sure to collect only the fully developed and healthy-looking seeds. Discard any small or discolored seeds.
If you want to ensure that your seeds will germinate successfully, you can use the sanderson or Thompson and Morgan seed-collecting method. This involves soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours, and then transferring them to a tray lined with kitchen roll or cotton wool. Keep the tray in a warm, dry place for a week or two until the seeds start to germinate.
Once your sweet pea seeds have sprouted, you can transplant them into pots or directly into the garden. Just make sure to plant them in well-drained soil and give them a support to climb on. Sweet peas are popular for their beautiful and fragrant flowers, and they can be a wonderful addition to any garden.
So, next time you harvest sweet peas from your gardens, don’t forget to collect some seeds. You never know what new plants you might be able to grow in the years to come!
When Do You Harvest Sweet Pea Seeds
If you want to save sweet pea seeds, there are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind. Sweet peas are known for their beautiful flowers and fragrant scent, but they also produce seed pods that you can collect and use to grow new plants.
When you see the seed pods on your sweet pea plants start to swell, it’s a good indication that the seeds are forming inside. You’ll want to wait until the seed pods have turned brown and dried out before harvesting. If you pick the pods too early, the seeds inside won’t be mature enough to grow.
To harvest the seeds, simply pick the dried seed pods from the plants. You can either sow the seeds directly into your garden or let them dry out for a few more days before storing them for next year’s planting. If you’re growing sweet peas in containers, be sure to transplant the seedlings into the garden before the first frost hits.
One trick to harvesting sweet pea seeds is to cut the stem just above the seed pod. This will prevent any moisture from getting into the pod and causing the seeds to rot. You can also use a pair of scissors or pruning shears to make the job quicker and easier.
If you’re unsure about when to harvest sweet pea seeds, there are plenty of gardening guides and articles available that can provide more information. Some good resources to look for are written by Peter Thompson, Sue Sanderson, and Morgan Sweet. They offer tips and advice on caring for sweet peas and collecting their seeds.
In addition to harvesting sweet pea seeds, you should also consider deadheading your plants throughout the growing season. This involves removing any spent flowers from the plants to promote more blooms. Not only will this keep your sweet peas looking their best, but it will also encourage the plants to produce more seed pods for you to collect.
So, if you’d like to start growing sweet peas from seed, be sure to learn more about when and how to harvest the seeds. With a little care and attention, you’ll soon have a beautiful garden full of sweet pea flowers to enjoy.
Try This Trick
If you’re planting sweet peas in your garden, try this trick to maximize your harvest. As the sweet pea plants grow, tie the stems to a support using twine or soft garden ties. This will help the plants stay upright and prevent them from falling over. Make sure to tie the stems gently, making sure not to damage the delicate plants.
If you’re growing sweet peas indoors, you can still use this trick. Place a support like a bamboo stake or a trellis in the pot and tie the stems to it as they grow. This will help the plants to grow upright and will also keep them from getting tangled.
Another popular trick for sweet peas is to harvest their seedpods when they are above ground but still green. Store the seedpods in a cool and dry place until they turn brown and begin to swell. This is a sign that the seeds are mature and ready for planting.
When it’s time to plant the sweet pea seeds, make sure to soak them in water overnight. This will help to soften the hard outer coating of the seeds and improve germination. You can then plant the seeds in full sun or partial shade, depending on your preference.
After planting, make sure to care for your sweet pea plants by watering them regularly and providing support as they grow taller. Sweet peas are climbers and will need something to cling to as they reach for the sky.
One last trick for sweet pea enthusiasts is deadheading. Removing the faded flowers will encourage the plants to produce more blooms and extend the flowering period. Simply pinch off the spent flowers and discard them. This will redirect the plant’s energy into producing new flowers instead of forming seed pods.
Try these tricks in your garden, and you’ll soon have a beautiful display of sweet peas filling your space with their lovely fragrance. Happy gardening!
