Sweet Peas (Home Horticulture News - October 2008)
Sweet peas are excellent cut flowers for spring in Louisiana. The flowers are delightfully scented and come in an array of colors. Sweet peas bloom in early spring and provide color when winter annuals are fading and warm-season annuals are just getting started. Although sweet peas grow three to four months before blooming, the resulting flowers are well worth the wait.
To cut sweet peas in the spring, you have to plant in the fall. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden in October or plants can be transplanted from containers in November. In either case, plants should be spaced at least 6 inches apart. A slow-release fertilizer should be applied when three to four true leaves are visible on direct-sown plantings or directly after transplanting. Too much fertilizer will delay or reduce flowering.
Sweet peas are vines, so the plants need support or a structure to grow on; the possibilities are endless. Time-tested structures include chain link fence, trellis netting strung vertically between posts or just a regular trellis. Depending on the variety, sweet pea plants can range in size from 1 to 8 feet tall, although most are in the 4- to 6-foot range. A structure should be installed before or directly after planting.
Plants should begin flowering in late winter or early spring, depending on the variety. Flowers should be cut regularly or spent flowers should be deadheaded to maximize the number of flowers and to lengthen the flowering period. You should be able to enjoy sweet pea flowers for at least two months, possibly longer, depending on cultural practices and the weather.
Insects can become a problem in sweet pea plantings. Heavy infestations of aphids can occur in early spring, and spider mites can be a problem if weather is dry in late winter and early spring. To prevent insect problems, inspect the plants once a week and spray with an insecticide labeled for ornamentals if a problem does exist.
Sweet peas are a wonderful addition to any landscape or vegetable garden.
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| Posted on: 8/27/2008 3:28:29 PM |
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