Sweet Peas
By: Rhonda Fleming Hayes
Rhonda Fleming Hayes is a Master Gardener and contributing writer for Nature Hills Nursery. A native Californian, she has been gardening in some form or fashion since she was a child. Rhonda now writes and gardens in Kansas.
Searing heat, bitter winds and the occasional tornado just make her a smarter gardener. Borrowing from the New York, New York song; she claims if you can garden in Kansas, you can garden anywhere!
I did it. My sweet peas have reached the top of their trellisÖand they are blooming. Whatís the big deal you say?
Every gardener has their holy grail. For some itís simply a ripe tomato by the 4th of July, for others itís that rare blue Himalayan poppy. For me itís sweet peas.
Oh, Iíve grown them before. As a college student in California I grew them at the back door of an old rental house. In England I didnít bother. I could buy them in fat fistfuls at village fetes for a mere 30p.
For a while now I have been living and gardening very close to the geographic center of the U.S. Am I cool-season or warm season? Which regionís to-do list should I follow; Midwest, plains, southwest? I am a peculiar zone 6 and hotter than heck come summer.
The rest of the country can follow a few simple rules for successful sweet peas. In warm climates plant in fall, cold climates wait until early spring. I went with the latter. To help my odds I planted 4 different varieties, including ìOld Spiceî and ìPerfume Delightî.
See our Sweet Pea Seeds
Sweet peas grow best in rich soil. I sowed my seeds in an area with soil that crumbles like chocolate cake. Then I added aged rabbit manure for good luck.
Provide some type of support; simple stakes and string or a decorative trellis. I constructed a grid of bamboo lashed with black zip ties.
Sweet peas love cool-weather so I crossed my fingers. We had two early hot spells. I thought about ripping them out twice. Then all at once they seemed to run up the trellis.
Depending on the weather sweet peas will bloom for 3-6 weeks. Keep them picked to encourage repeat flowers.
I strongly believe in the saying, ìright plant for the right placeî. That philosophy makes for successful gardeners and saves them work. But those winged blossoms of watercolory pinks and lavenders with such heavy heavenly scent make me forget all reason.
Contact Information
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3334 North 88th Plaza
Omaha, NE 68134
Phone (402)934-8116
Fax: (402)991-0778
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