Spectacular Sweet Peas for Northern California

Favorite cultivars and growing guide for this classic beloved annual

Sweet peas ( Lathyrus odoratus ) are annual , cool - season climbing vines that can hand up to 6 feet in tiptop . They are adore for their deliciously fragrant , fluttery blooms that after 100 of breeding are available in a wide range of forms and colours , including ones that are bicolored , streaked , and picoted . Sweet peas were first wreak to the universe ’s attention in the recent 1600s by Sicilian monastic and nurseryman Francisco Cupani . The fascination with these gorgeously scented blush continues to this solar day , with modern developments bring greater disease resistance , longer bloom times , increased adaptability , and more colors , sizes , and word form to well-chosen gardener worldwide . Easy to maturate and as lovely in the garden as they are in the vase , sweet pea plant commencement can be retrieve from late declivity to early spring in our region at your favorite local greenhouse , with seeds available online and in all the best garden core yr - pear-shaped . My favorite seed author includeRenee ’s Garden Seeds(an excellent author for heirlooms such as the exquisitely fragrant ‘ Cupani ’s Original ’ ) , andJohnny ’s Selected Seeds , where many of the most up - to - day of the month and spectacular introductions can be find .

Favorite cultivars

In order of preference , based on last year ’s garden and vase performance , here are my current sensational dearie : ‘ Old Times ’ , ‘ Zinfandel ’ , ‘ Elegance Pink Diana ’ , ‘ Pulsar ’ , and ‘ Blue Celeste’—all magniloquent , high - yielding , vigorous growers that produce armloads of frilled , long - stemmed , coloured blooms over a foresighted point . These varieties are guarantee to stop you in your tracks when in full flower and to create salient , inordinately fragrant bouquets when cut and brought indoors . Honorable mentions admit the heirlooms ‘ Cupani ’s Original ’ , ‘ Miss Wilmott ’ , and ‘ America ’ . Additionally , the ‘ Color Palette Cupid ’ commixture from Renee ’s Garden is perfect for hanging basket and windowpane box .

When to plant

Sweet pea blossom most extravagantly and with better - quality prime when planted ahead of time enough to insure that most of their prebloom maturation come during the cool weather of gloaming , wintertime , and early springiness . In Northern California , this idealistic clock time — warrant the most outstanding , blossom - filled result — is from belated September through October if you are seed your angelical pea directly in the garden . If you are buy vernal sweet pea plants from your local baby’s room , this menses extends all the path through mid - March . Note : Do n’t be interested about wintertime temperatures ; cherubic pea are frost - resistant and take no frost protection .

Growing conditions

Sweet peas flourish well in full Sunday but can tolerate some afternoon specter and really execute better with shelter in the hotter NorCal field as the time of year come along . asunder from dwarf varieties best suited for fall baskets or window boxes , sweet pea need erect support in the physical body of a treillage , mandrel , fence , or obelisk that accommodates their tendril - based climbing habit . For best results , plant life in well - cultivated , well - debilitate territory , enrich with compost and E. B. Stone Organics Sure Start . Fall and winter rain should take guardianship of your dulcet peas ’ initial watering needs , but be ready to irrigate on a regular basis as before long as it ’s necessary . To confirm their vigorous emergence habit and encourage abundant bloom production , bung your sweet peas on a regular basis with a well - balanced plant food . If you notice your plants beginning to produce short stems than they did before ( which is natural when they ’ve been producing for some metre ) , side - dress your industrial plant with a small blood meal , and irrigate it in well . This helps assure a return to long - stemmed bloom production .

Pests and problems

Slugs and snails can damage come forth seedlings , so be ready with your favourite slug and snail remedy . to boot , raspberry make out to nybble on the young , tender leafage , so have shuttle netting in home if necessary . As the plant get tall , these danger diminish , but aphids and thrips can become an issue . Monitor your plant , avoid pesticide , and wash any offender off with a jet of water . Foliar eating with a weak manure tea or dilute solution of fish photographic emulsion will make the leaves distasteful to pestis while provoke industrial plant development . Space your plant 6 to 8 inches apart to avoid problems with mildew and promote good air circulation .

Bloom period

The sooner you plant your sweet peas , the originally the show start out ! If implant in September or October , you should expect the first long - stemmed , fragrant , fluttery blossom to appear as betimes as March . Planting later means a later start to the bloom period , but no matter when you plant , the more sweet pea plant you glean , the more your plants will bloom , producing posy after bouquet all the room to July in our region . Just keep on cutting and filling your vessel , and be indisputable to murder any pod that result if you leave blossom on your vine to decorate your outdoor space .

— Fionuala Campion is the owner and director of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .

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