Cut flowers5 varieties

Sweet Pea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fragrant cool-season annual vine with tendrils and pea-like flowers on cutting stems.

Days to maturity

75–90 days

Days to germ.

10–28 days

Spacing

6–8 in

Height

72–144 in

Sun

Sun

Vase life

4–7 days

How we grow it

Germination

Days to germ.: 10–28 d
Soil temp: 50–55 °F
Depth: 1 in
Light for germ: dark
Pre-treatment: Either soak seeds in lukewarm water for 12 to 24 hours or nick their tough outer seed coats before sowing to speed germination.

Culture

Days to maturity: 75–90 d
Spacing: 6–8 in
Height: 72–144 in
Sun: Sun
Frost: Tolerates dips into the low 20s. · to 20°F · hardy
Sow indoors: Yes
Outdoor / direct: Yes

Harvest

Cut stage: Harvest sweet pea flowers when the bottom 1 to 2 blooms on the stem are just starting to open while the top buds remain unopened. Cut stems in the cool early morning or late evening when plants are fully hydrated. Pick flowers every 2 to 3 days to prevent the plant from setting seed pods, which stops blooming.
Vase life: 4–7 d

Timing · Zone 5a

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow indoorsFeb 26 – Apr 9

Outdoor / directApr 23 – Jun 4

Bloom (from indoor)May 10 – Jul 9

Bloom (from outdoor)Jul 5 – Sep 3

Windows are anchored to an average last frost of May 21 (1 year in 10 as early as Apr 29, as late as Jun 2) and an average first frost of Sep 18 (1 year in 10 as early as Sep 6, as late as Oct 8). In a late or early year, slide them with it.

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Trials

Every Sweet Pea sowingSeed sources, counts, ratings, and the observations kept against each one.Sweet Pea trials