Sweet Pea Question

18 years ago

Hiya,

I planted a ton of sweet peas in march and they are huge and started flowering last week.

Im picking off a lot of the flowers for bouquets.

The bottom leaves have started turning brown and I have been cutting most of those back.

Curious as to how to get them to continue to bloom.

Will cutting back help stimulate new growth?

The weather isn't too bad where I am.....hopefully hot enough for tomatos and cool enough for peas. ;)

How long should they go for?

Also, when finished, so I rip out and use container for soemthing else, or do i leave for next season.

thanks

Dana

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Comments (8)

nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
18 years ago
Yor are fortunate to be able to have blooms in the summer. The browning could be their normal tendency to die off in the summer.I'm lucky ( in Vacaville) to still have green vines in June. Around here, I seed in November, so if you want to plant something else, plan to be through with it by then. If you plant in fall, they my bloom by Feb or March. "Old Fashioned" types bloom longer.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
18 years ago
Keep the flowers picked to prevent them making seed and keep well watered and fertilized for the longest bloom. Mine are planted in October and are just about through, especially with this hot weather. I pull them out and plant something else in their place. If you want to save seeds for next year you will need to leave the vines till the seeds ripen. The plant is an annual and will not come back next year. Al
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deep___roots
18 years ago
I am 40 miles south of SF.
I sow sweet peas near Halloween. Typically, I can cut flowers from late April - July. At this point this year, my vines are still 8 feet tall, but the vines and leaves are browning, and although some flowers are still being produced, the stems are very short. Some seed is being produced. I have stopped cutting bouquets.
Since you started in March and you are in a cooler climate in SF, you may have a longer season than me. But the fact that your plants are browning signals the end is near. Sweet peas do not like summer's higher temps.
Anyway, yes, during their optimum growing period, simply cutting off the flowers every day will make the plant produce new flowers.
If you want to plant something else after they have finished, you certainly could. Or you could amend your pot's soil with rich good stuff and sow your sweet peas a little earlier, i.e., in the Fall. But your later timetable seems to work for you quite well. It's all up to what you want to do.
dgbeig
Original Author
18 years ago
thanks for the helpful feedback.
I will keep picking and clip off what is turning brown.

i may indeed try to sow again a little earlier....maybe beginning of Oct. Will I get blooms in winter if I sow in October?
Or not til spring?

Is it ok to sow in the same place?

thanks
Dana
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
18 years ago
You won't get flowers till the temperature warms in the spring. Your plants will look like nothing is happening through the cold weather but the roots are getting established and with the first warm weather they will take off. Before planting in the same place, dig in some compost to replenish the soil. Al
nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
18 years ago
There are some "Winter Elegance" varieties (I think), that re said to bloom earlier, but I wouldn't call it winter. I've seen a nursery in the area with blooms in Marchor so. Check out this link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fragrant Gardens-Sweet Pea Culture
dgbeig
Original Author
18 years ago
Great...
thanks for sending that website link.
Are there other sweet pea varieties that you have tried that you are specifically fond of? I have Unwin's Stripe in the ground and some Painted Lady seeds.

to folks in or near my zone...What annuals (seeds) are you planting now?
Dana
nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
18 years ago
Time to sow your sweet peas. I just did a winter elegance blend from Renee's, and will do some old fashioned blends over the next few weeks.