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Growing from Seed

question re time to sow larkspur, sweet pea

14 years ago

I have seed packs of larkspur and sweet pea.

The packs say sow in Jan-Mar and Dec-Feb, respectively.

But instructions also say "after all danger of frost, sow in open ground." Well, our last frost date is April 15???

I thought I could direct sow now. Therefore, I am confused. I'm in zone 7b/8a northeast Mississippi (Tupelo area). This week's temps are teens to 30's F.

Thanks, Laurie

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Comments (3)

oilpainter
14 years ago
Both these plants are hardy annuals, which means it will take a hard frost to kill them. The packs may give you those months but it depends where you live and no seed provider can cover all growing conditions. Planting in zone 9 or 10 will be at a different time than it will be in your zone and it will be much later in my zone 3.

You plant these plants as soon as the ground can be worked. Sweet peas in particular, like regular peas like to germinate in cool, amended soil. A few degrees of frost will not kill either one, but planting too late when the soil is hot may cut down on germination. You can also plant Larkspur outside in the fall, but early enough that it grows a small plant before freeze up.

If your last frost date is April 15th you could plant outside sometime around the first part of March. I don't know what your climate is like or how it warms in spring, so this is just a guess based on how it is here.
morz8 - Washington Coast
14 years ago
Mississippi Gardening tips:

Here is a link that might be useful: MSU
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oilpainter
14 years ago
You might like to soak your sweet peas before you plant. I put mine on a very wet paper towel on a dish. Then fold the towel over the seeds and cover with plastic wrap for a day before planting. When I plant I dig my hole and fill it with water and let it soak into the ground. Then I plant my soaked seed.

The soaking swells the hard outer covering and the moisture in the ground helps them germinate. I do this with any seed that has a hard outer shell--like sweet peas and nasturtiums

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