WINTER SWEET PEAS

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler

WINTER SWEET PEAS

Q: Can I still plant sweet peas this late in the year? What variety would you recommend? Steve Conway, Modesto

A: In most areas, you can plant sweet peas until June. Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus, with a wonderful fragrance, is an annual and the perennial (latifollus) grows easily in the San Diego to Baja California area. The recent article that appeared in some newspapers stating that sweet peas are best planted in June was written in Pennsylvania with a very different climate than ours. In the mountains it is best to plant May or June after the frost has disappeared.

If you have not prepared for planting previously, you can do this now if there is no snow or the soil is not soggy wet. After the trench has been dug 18” to 24” deep, add 6 inches of well-rotted manure and back fill with one part of mulch (use some of your finished compost) mixed with two parts of the native soil; Deep water the trench to leach out any salts in the manure and soil which can damage young plants. Prepare a six or seven foot trellis for the plants to grow upon. Keep the trellis away from a building or block wall to let air circulate.

I pre-plant the sweet pea seeds that have been soaked overnight in pony packs to get the plants started. Established plants will keep the birds from eating the seeds and slugs from eating newly grown foliage. This should insure flowers by Valentine’s Day. After the plants are 6 inches tall, snip the tops allowing strong side branches to form. You can plant the seeds or wait until spring.

Keep the soil moist and feed every two weeks with fertilizer, I use a solution of fish concentrate. After the plants are 24” to 30” tall for long flowering stems. The more you remove the spent flowers, the more you will have for use in your home and as gifts for friends.

I plant the annual variety, Lathyrus odoratus, mostly for winter blooms. They can be planted anytime in mid-August thru December, depending on the weather. The blooms will be in the short day period. There are many colors to choose from if you use “Early Multiflora” (formerly called Spencers).

Robert H. Schuler, M.G.
rhschuler@frontier.net

GARDEN PATCH POINTERS
By Robert H. and Hoberley Schuler
Oregon State University Master Gardeners and NGC & CGCI
Garden Study and Landscape Design Master Consultants