@Texaskitty111,
Whoa! I thought you could grow sweet peas almost anywhere
especially in Texas. (?!)
We live 20mi inland, and north of San Diego......technically a desert,
but grow sweet peas easily......the seeds from the plants that bloomed this year
have already germinated and coming up in a "wild zone" that is not in the garden
with just minimal water.
The main thing is to
start them early.....September here.....and I'm behind already,
having just planted seeds in peat pots yesterday. But usually, I don't remember to
plant till Nov, or even Jan. So am doing well this year.
I've always gotten seeds from Rene's Garden, and save seeds as well.
But this year I purchased 10 varieties from Enchanting Sweet Peas (like Calif_Sue) after seeing them in
our podiatrist's office.....she grows them and brings them in for the patients to enjoy.
They are the longest stemmed and most beautiful blooms of any I've ever seen or grown.
Mine have always had great fragrance, but not all are long stemmed for cut flowers.
I bought 10 packets of 10 seeds each. I use Jiffy Peat Pots in a hexagonal plastic tray ($5 each)
that will hold 7 pots, and use Miracle Grow Seed Starter mix. The trays come with pots, but
they fall apart when wet, so I discard them and just use the Jiffy Peat Pots which are
sturdier.
Note: I don't use the Jiffy seed starter even though it's cheaper than MG's, because it is very difficult to keep moist.....it's finer, and doesn't
drain as well, imho.
I bought 10 trays (over time), and re-use them. I drilled a 1/8" hole through the stack for each
place in the tray, as they don't come with one.
I fill each peat pot ~2/3 with the medium, and place 1-3 seeds in each, then add more mix
until it's heaping above the rim, then lightly tamp each with the bottom of a peat pot.
Then label and water well. I don't nick the seeds or soak them overnight. There's enough
water to completely moisten them. The seed is ~1" deep.
I put 3 seeds in each pot to start, "just in case", for all 10 varieties......1x3 in each pot.
They transplant well. Then I planted just one seed per pot for the rest. I usually don't
thin them.....I hate to pull out a seedling that's trying to live.....I plant them all, and
give them all a chance.
I'll also plant some directly in the ground, but haven't had time to clean out the garden yet
to make room, so am doing peat pots to get them going sooner than later.
They should germinate in a week or less, and usually take a while to get up to speed.
In fact, they look so spindly initially , you wonder if something's wrong.....then almost overnight,
they take off, get very "buff", and grow like Jack's bean stalk!
But I give them a little help up with some twine so they don't wander sideways, and
have to keep the snails off them regularly (I use Sluggo.....safe for pets).
Anyway, get your sweet peas going today even if you have to keep them
indoors during the winter......they are a "must have" for any garden, imho.
