Well, this is my second year with Edna's sweet peas and I planted them the same way you did. Mine are up about 6 inches, and look fine despite the unusually cold temperatures & wintery precipitation.

I've never heard of planting any kind of seed in a foot deep hole but I'm certainly not an expert on seeds. I think you will be just fine!

Marilyn

You didn't mess up at all. What I do is poke my finger in the ground about knuckle deep and drop a seed in. I've never added manure or any other amendments. Mine have about 3" in growth despite the frost.

Edna :-)

Oh phew! I panicked. I remember that beautiful photo of your sweet peas- I hope hope hope mine look anything like that. I hope I didn't plant them too late. I planted them last week- how long until I should see something?

I have done that dig the trench bit with sweet peas. I think it is supposed to give them a stronger root system, but I have never been able to tell the difference in over all performance. It might matter though if you lived where the sweet peas grow all summer long.

My sweetpeas from previous years are still coming up - right through the bark mulch and dry unwatered areas and anywhere they settle! So I wouldn't worry about planting them a foot deep....

Anne

Oh, I'm glad I read this. I thought they were supposed to be planted in a shallow trench. I'm hoping to cover a large stretch of fencing with their blooms come spring. And it's all Edna's fault - you enabler, you. : )

I think I'll plant some next to the Westies. Wouldn't they look great climbing up the arbor?

Diana

Oh yes they would look beautiful next to the Westie.

If I can grow sweet peas, any one could grow sweet peas.

I became fascinated with them when I saw bundles for sale at the farmers market one March day. It's been an addiction ever since.

Diana, You can get yummy single colors from Renee's Garden. Think of a lavender blue with Westie : ) Last year I had the watermelon color and they were a gorgeous coral color. This year I went with an old fashioned mix.

Edna, I agree. I used to buy them by the armload at Seattle's Pike Place Market when I lived there. I haven't had a lot of luck growing them though. I know they hate humidity, but I haven't even had luck with them when I started them in spring, way before the Virginia humidity starts. I hope this year I have better luck.

They don't like the heat. Mine die back as soon as the temps rise.

As Debbie said above, Renee's Garden has some beautiful varieties of seeds. Some of them tolerate heat however I have no clue as to how they would do in humid weather.

Edna

Oh, I am so jealous! I have heard so many wonderful things about Pike Place Market. :-)

I never had any luck growing sweet peas until I tried Edna's seeds. I swear that woman has a magic touch with sweet peas because if I'm growing them successfully, ANYONE can. But they do poop out when the heat hits, so hope for a long, cool spring.

Last year, when they were in bloom, I invited a couple of gardening friends over to see them. There were lots of oooohs and ahhhhs. I told them it's certainly not through my gardening talent, it's the good seeds that our resident Sweet Pea Queen sent. ;-)

Marilyn

Do you always direct sow or winter sow? Seems like some of the annuals, larkspur, poppies, cornflowers, would be easier just to direct sow. Are sweet peas the same?

this past spring was my first successful year at planting sweetpeas after over 20 years of trying. I just poked them in the ground with my finger in mid January. I think they were Burpee or Walmart - can't remember which but not a special hybrid or anything - sure hope they do as well this year again.....

Lynne

{{gwi:247003}}

Oh gorgeous. I hope hope hope mine come up.

ThreeOrangeBoys, they will come up. If I can grow them, anyone can. Direct sow and let nature take over.

Very pretty, Lynne.

Edna

in zone 7B (nearly 8), what kind of sun do sweet peas like? are we talking about annual sweet peas? thanks for any advice!

Yes, I am talking about annual sweet peas. I think they like full sun, just not heat. Of course, now I am panicked as mine are in the ground and it has gotten FREEZING.

I don't think cold bothers them at all, but as you mentioned, heat is the real killer. Mine are up about 6 inches and have been hit by freezing temperatures and ice but look just fine. I've even noticed some additional growth.

I bet you are just fine although Edna, our resident Sweet Pea Queen, would be the authority on sweet pea hardiness. :-)

Marilyn

Frost hardy does not mean that your sweet peas are going to be blooming next week, unless you're in zone 10.

Sweet Peas go in the ground in November or January, according to where you are and when you have seeds and think of it. They put up tentative shoots when they're ready and then they make roots, lots of roots which is the reason for the soft, deep bed you prepared. Oh, you didn't make a deep bed? They'll try their best, anyway. If in a shallow trench, they like a little soil pulled in as they grow -- not a necessity if you have no trench.

{{gwi:25780}}

Like any other half hardy annual, when the conditions are right, they will grow. When a hard freeze comes, they may look pitiful but they'll persevere. When they're ready, they'll bloom. It may be April.

Listen to Edna and just put them in the ground and have patience.

Nell

I get mine from another source and they are about a foot high now. If you have good soil, there is no need to add manure in the trench; in fact, that should be avoided. ou add manure (well-rotted) if you need to about two weeks before you plant. I have been growing them for years as they are my favourite flower.

Remember, the more you pick; the more you get!

Thanks everyone- Okay, deep breaths. I didn't do the manure thing, just put them in. I can put manure over them now though. I am so excited I hope they flower! If they do, I'll post a photo!

Sweet peas naturally add nitrogen to he soil. No need to fertilize or add compost. They will flower so don't you worry!

I'm not suppose to add pictures on this side so I'll post my (last spring) Sweet Peas in the Gallery side :-)

Edna

Edna, where do I go for your photo???? I went to photo galleries, but didn't see it. maybe I am looking in the wrong place?

Sarah

Sarah,

When you click on the discussion topic in the cottage garden forum, look at the line directly above. You will see-

On Topic Discussions [Switch to: Conversations, Gallery, Exchanges]

Just click on Gallery and you will be sent to the Cottage Garden Gallery. To access conversations or exchanges, just click on those 2 items and you will be directed there.

Hope this helps!
Marilyn

Thanks Marilyn!

I found a large number of posting/titles when I did a search. Please bear with me as I ask questions! It seems "everyone" has planted from seed. Do you have to plant each year? If so, why?

A neighbor has sweet peas on a section of fence that are thick vines & bloom every spring with nothing done to them (like honeysuckle). They moved but I have permission to get a start...but how? I've never seen pods on them as mentioned in another thread I found here, but that doesn't mean anything (neighbors, not close friends so not back & forth much). This neighbor told me her MIL planted these sweet peas 'years ago'. I picked a small amount for a bouquet & then some non-blooming vinery to attempt a rooting. They are on the fence in full sunshine; I want to put them on a fenced area that is shaded. Will this work or do I need to pick another spot?

Any advise/suggestions? I don't have a green thumb, but I would like to try these.

I sure hope I can find your responses after asking so many questions! Thanks for any help you can give!