Sweet Pea Seeds

Sweet Pea FAQs 

Take a look at some of the frequently asked questions we receive from those looking to buy Sweet Pea Seeds in the UK. You can contact our Customer Service Team or browse our general FAQs for further advice.   

Why choose to plant Sweet Pea Seeds? 

There are many reasons why sweet pea plants are so beloved such as their soft, intoxicating fragrance, vivid colouring and long blooming period from May to October 

How to plant Sweet Pea Seeds 

Sweet pea seeds aren't hard to grow, but they need a specific environment to thrive. Here's how to give your seeds the best chance to flourish. 

Put your sweet pea seeds in root trainers which helps sweet pea roots grow as straight and deep as possible without becoming tangled with each other. Sweet pea plants are sun lovers, so a sunny spot in a greenhouse or a part of the garden with at least six hours of sunlight a day is perfect. However, when they have grown enough to be planted in soil, sweet pea plants prefer cool roots, so place them with annuals – they will help shelter the sweet pea roots while providing the sunlight they love so much.  

If potting, use a peat-free, multi-purpose compost. If planting directly into a flower bed, give the soil a little love first by mixing in a few cups of fertiliser. Be sure to top up the soil throughout the growing process with a fertilising liquid to keep your flowers sweet, so they can reward you with colourful displays and fantastic fragrance!  

Depending on the weather, every few days is a good starting guide for watering your sweet pea seeds. If it's been raining, they'll need less, and if it's been sunny, they'll need more. Keep the soil moist, but don’t drown them. If your seeds are in a pot, try placing the pot in water and let the plant drink up as needed.  

Sweet pea plants need something to grow up because they can grow quite tall, so have a plant support ready. Start by attaching them to a small bamboo hoop – they'll grow stronger and taller if they're not left flopping around. Adjust as they get taller – they can grow up to 1.8m tall at their full height! 

[Read more on growing sweet peas from seed] 

What's the difference between Sweet Pea Seeds and Perennial Sweet Pea Seeds? 

A variation of the sweet pea plant, perennial sweet pea seeds grow and develop gorgeous, tiny orchid-shaped petals. Also called everlasting sweet peas, the perennial sweet pea is known for its durability and will return year after year, easily reaching 6-8 feet high! Be warned, aroma lovers, it does lack the iconic fragrance of a traditional sweet pea – so if it's blissful smells you're after, it's best to avoid the perennial. 

When is the ideal time to plant Sweet Pea Seeds? 

You can sow sweet pea seeds between October and April. Late October and late February are perhaps optimum times to sow them to avoid both the lowest winter temperatures and shortest daylight hours. October planting allows the seeds to germinate and establish roots over winter for spring blooms. In harsh winters, planting in late February lessens the chance of seedlings being killed by the cold. 

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