I have always loved flowers The sight of bright yellow daffodils tells us Spring is almost here. I love music, dancing, reading, watercolor painting, wine, the beach, sunsets, and spending time with my family. Pea aphids are common sweet pea pests that may require control with insecticidal soap. I was born in San Francisco and have lived in the Bay Area most of my life. Snipping off old flowers will help prolong bloom time. HarvestingĬlip stems for indoor arrangements when half the flowers are open. Colors include pink, white, red, purple, burgundy and many bicolors. Some varieties are much more fragrant than others. Sweet peas are a beautiful way to cover a chain link fence. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Plant sweet peas in the fall in mild winter climates, or first thing in spring in other areas. Rows: 7" (20cm) with 7" (20cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plantīefore planting sweet pea seeds, nick the outer seed coat with nail clippers to help speed germination. Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Small mound-forming annuals like sweet alyssum can be grown at the base of tall sweet peas. Sweet peas need a fence or other support, and you need easy access to cut blossoms for bouquets, so it is best not to crowd them with other plants. In early summer, drench plants with a liquid fertilizer to prolong bloom time. Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. Young seedlings tolerate frost easily, but mature plants are damaged by freezing weather.