Sweet peas are among the most popular summer bloomers, which thrive in an unbelievable variety of colors and species in our gardens. The annual flowering plants produce many seeds that germinate without any problems. With these, the plants for the next garden season can be grown very easily and inexpensively.
Sweet peas can be brought forward from February
The seed procurement
Vetch seeds are available from any well-stocked garden store. If you already have sweet peas in your garden, you can harvest the seeds yourself. Do not remove faded flowers in autumn, but let the flowers dry out. Flattened legumes are formed, in which the seeds are located. These have to mature before they begin to open laterally. Now remove the seeds, which are up to half a centimeter in size. Let them dry on a piece of kitchen paper for a few days and keep the seeds, packed in small paper bags, until you sow them.
Sowing indoors
You can grow sweet peas indoors from the beginning of February. They then bloom outdoors in early summer and thrive particularly vigorously. Follow these steps:
- Allow the seeds to swell in lukewarm water.
- Fill the growing containers with nutrient-poor growing soil.
- Place the seeds three centimeters apart on the lightly pressed surface of the soil.
- Vetch are dark germs. Therefore, cover the seed with soil about one centimeter thick.
- Moisten gently with a sprayer.
- Cover the planter with a hood or a transparent plastic bag (greenhouse climate).
- Place in a bright but not full sun spot.
- The optimum germination temperature is between 15 and 18 degrees. An unheated conservatory or the stairwell is ideal.
Sweet peas germinate quickly and it only takes a week or two for the first shoot tips to appear. Due to the planting distance, the plants only have to be isolated in exceptional cases. It is important to give the plants additional support as soon as they have reached a height of ten centimetres. Kebab skewers, which you stick into the potting soil next to the young plants, are well suited.
Sow outdoors
Sweet peas are robust and can also be sown directly into the bed. The right time for this is early to mid-May, as soon as there is no longer any threat of night frost. Loosen the potting soil thoroughly so that the young plants find optimal conditions. The seeds are placed in pairs with a planting distance of about 10 centimeters and covered with a centimeter thick soil. Then it is carefully poured with a very soft rain shower.
tips
Vetch seeds are a coveted treat for our feathered friends. Be sure to protect the seeds from hungry birds with nets.