How to grow sweet peas in the garden. Perennial sweet peas: growing from seeds, planting and care, photo

Growing sweet peas from seeds is perhaps one of the easiest. Even schoolchildren are recommended to plant it in botany lessons. However, often when growing this beautiful and pleasantly smelling plant, you can make mistakes and not wait for flowering. Let's figure out the rules of his agricultural technology, go over popular types and varieties, and will focus on the use of sweet peas in landscape design.

Charming sweet peas: growing from seeds

Peas were first heard of in antiquity (Theophrastus), but real recognition began in the 19th century. Scottish breeder Henry Eckford began to develop new varieties, and very quickly unpretentious plant gained enviable popularity. The gardener was awarded the highest Royal honor.

The colorful sweet pea or sweet pea (Lathyrus odomtus) makes a stunning addition to the garden. This annual plant of the legume family is used for landscaping flower beds and terraces. Unusual shape flowers and variety of colors conquer the hearts of gardeners.

Description, types and varieties

The plant has a very developed root system, but does not tolerate transplantation well. The climbing stems cling well to the support with their tendrils, and the flowers can be compared to the wings of a moth. The flowering period of the annual is quite long.

More and more often you can find this climbing plant when landscaping vertical terraces. Many types of peas reach a height of about 2 meters. Today breeders bred popular varieties dwarf form, which does not exceed 30 cm.

Tall varieties of sweet peas are used for landscaping walls, gazebos, arches and balconies. The most suitable ones would be:

King Lavender;
Blue Danube;
Cream Gigantic;
Cremona;
Alice.

For cutting and bouquets, you can grow some varieties with a strong peduncle and large bright flowers. The flowering period of such plants is quite short, which makes further propagation of the flower difficult.

Royal Wedding
Colin Unwin
Rosalind
Brian Clough

The most popular remain low-growing varieties sweet pea. Such plants can be used as a border, when creating a flower bed or as a potted specimen. Some of the common varieties:

Lady Di;
Lucien;
Florida.

The collection of plants includes more than 1000 varieties of various colors. There are white, pink, red, purple and blue shades of flowers.

Growing from seeds

Location and soil

A place for planting an annual should be chosen that is protected from the winds, but sunny. Peas also grow well in light partial shade. The soil for planting must be fertile and neutral in acidity. Before planting, compost and sand are added to the dense soil, which increases its breathability. It is not recommended to apply fresh manure. The flower grows poorly in high-lying areas groundwater and on marshy soils.

When planting in the garden, preference should be given to sunny areas, but peas can tolerate light partial shade.

Planting and caring for the plant

Sweet peas are quite easy to care for, and growing this crop is not labor-intensive, even a novice gardener can do it.

It is better to plant your favorite flower immediately in the garden, since seedling method Not very acceptable for the plant. Young seedlings are very tender, and the taproot system does not tolerate transplantation well. Most suitable way for planting - sowing seeds in the ground.

Pea seeds are very hard and require pre-soaking before sowing. To do this, just put them in a dampened napkin for 1.5 hours to swell. Seeds prepared in this way in early spring sown in furrows to a depth of 2-3 cm. When proper care The first flowering occurs at the end of July.

Sweet peas grow very quickly and need support. For long flowering, you need to promptly remove faded flowers and provide the plant with necessary care. In dry and arid summers, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture levels by regularly watering the annual plant. Watering and weeding are the main care for peas.

The flower responds well to fertilizing, which needs to be done several times a season. For these purposes, it is better to use organic fertilizers, but you should not use nitrogen fertilizers. This is due to the ability of peas to absorb nitrogen from the air.

In short summer conditions, the seedling method is used (without picking). Then peas are grown from seeds in peat-humus cups, and the grown plants are planted in the ground directly in the cups - this significantly increases the flowering time of the plant. By the way, pinching the shoots at the moment when the plant has risen 10-15 cm will also extend the growing season and the bush will become more luxuriant, but the plant will bloom a week later.

Annual propagation

To preserve the variety and further cultivation To grow peas on your site, you need to collect seeds. To do this, select the largest and healthiest specimens, on which flower stalks and pods are left for further seed formation. They retain their germination capacity for 8 years. Keep planting material Needed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in the cellar. Sometimes a plant does not set seeds or drops flower stalks; this may be due to a sharp temperature change or insufficient watering.

Diseases and pests

Sweet peas are affected by pests and fungal diseases. The most common of them are:

powdery mildew;
gray mold;
root rot;
blackleg;
ascochyta;
mosaic viruses.

When the first signs of disease are detected, the plant is immediately treated with biofungicides, and powdery mildew Farmayod or biosoda helps a lot. For prevention purposes, it is necessary to carry out pre-treatments with drugs, and select only healthy seed material.

Aphids and root weevils cause great harm to the plant. These pests infect the leaves of the plant, which inhibits the growth and development of the annual plant and spoils its decorative properties. You can get rid of pests by spraying peas with a tobacco-garlic mixture. During the rainy season, slugs are also greedy for peas, as well as for all plants of the legume family.

Sweet peas in landscape design

Sweet pea is a climbing plant that forms many tendrils, blooms for a long time and has a pleasant aroma. These properties allow the annual plant to be widely used in garden and plot design.

Tall climbing varieties Well suited for decorating arches, verandas, fences. Using artificial supports and pea plantings, you can disguise unsightly areas of the garden. Looks great in the background of a flower garden.

Low varieties can be grown in balcony boxes, at the edge of a flower bed or border. Peas go well with other annuals and sit nicely alongside perennials. It brings tangible benefits to the ecology of the garden - it enriches the soil with nitrogen and provides nectar to beneficial insects.

As you can see, if you provide this most fragrant annual good drainage and timely watering, it will delight you with its flowering for a long time. Feel free to plant sweet peas on your plot; growing from seeds is easy as in open ground, and on balconies and terraces.

21 Aug 2016

Garden sweet pea flower often used for vertical gardening. Flower growers love this annual plant for the elegant, beautiful shape of the flowers, a wide variety of varietal colors, and also for the pleasant, delicate aroma of the flowers. No one english garden cannot do without sweet pea; in Britain this flower occupies one of the first places among garden annual flowers. On English language The name of this plant is “Sweet Pea”, and in Latin Latyrus odoratus, which means “beautiful and fragrant”. We often describe this plant under the name fragrant chyna.

Sweet pea- a climbing plant, its stems rise along the support, clinging to it with tendrils, and can reach a height of 2-2.5 meters. Tall climbing varieties of sweet peas are planted along the walls of gazebos, terraces, and pergolas. Climbing along the support, the plants give a large number of flowers along the entire height, forming a beautiful flowering wall, and flutters throughout the garden pleasant aroma. There are low-growing varieties of sweet peas, 20-40 cm high, they do not require garter, so the plants are perfect for decorating borders, mixborders or for growing in boxes.

Sweet peas bloom in early or mid-summer, depending on the variety and method of cultivation; with proper care, flowering will continue until the first autumn frosts.

Sweet peas can be used to make fragrant bouquets. Sweet pea flowers last up to two weeks in water, but the inflorescences need to be cut with the flowers in full bloom, since the buds do not open after cutting.

Clan China (Lathyrus) has more than 100 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. They have characteristic flowers that resemble moths, the corolla has a “boat” at the bottom, a “sail” at the top and two “oars” on the sides.

As an annual garden flower with a pleasant aroma gained great popularity sweet pea or sweet pea (Lathyrusodoratus). Based on this species, many varieties and hybrids have been created, which differ in stem height, flowering period and flower color. Sweet pea flowers, 3-6 cm in size, are collected in long racemose inflorescences of 8-12 pieces.

Sweet pea varieties have a wide range of flower colors: pure white, cream, with a pinkish edge, yellow, pink, red, blue, lilac, purple and other shades.

Classification of sweet pea varieties by flowering time:

The following varieties of sweet peas bloom early, 50-55 days after sowing: with red flowers - Mars, Vulcan; With pink flowers- Nancy, Evely, Eileen; with lilac and blue flowers- Triumph, Memory, Mariner; with white and cream flowers - Orientale, White Harlini.

The average flowering period for sweet pea varieties, flowers that begin to bloom after 60 days: red - Jimmy, Kenneth, Dina, Ramona; pink - Miranda and Gloria; purple - Celeste, Eleanor, Grace; white - Jenny, Marion, Lily.

WITH late flowering varieties that bloom 75-80 days after sowing: from the red ones - Grenadier, Wilcome, Fire; from pink - Carmen, Diana, Margaret, Molly; from lilac - Elizabeth Taylor, Neptune, Flegship; from white and cream - Alaska, Milky Way, Best White.

Sweet peas grow wild in mild climate regions of the Mediterranean, South America, South Africa, the Caucasus. Many perennial species plants from this genus are adapted to winters in our climate and are found in forests and meadows; they can be used in the garden to create perennial flower beds.

Spring chin- forms a bush 30-40 cm high. Compound feathery leaves have spines at the end instead of whiskers. The flowers are large, collected in clusters of 3-8 pieces, purple-violet in color. This species blooms in spring. Grows best in diffused light on light, well-drained soil.

China Gmelin- perennial with long stems, from 60 cm to 1.5 meters. The large feathery leaves have a point at the end, this is a modified tendril. The flowers are yellow and bloom in June - July. This perennial propagates by seeds or division of the rhizome.

China tuberous- perennial up to 2 meters high, with small lanceolate leaves with tendrils at the end. The flowers are pink, fragrant. This species blooms all summer. It quickly reproduces by seeds and rhizome cuttings, so it can be aggressive and choke out neighboring plants.

China Mulkan grows on rocky slopes in Central Asia. This climbing perennial plant is very similar to sweet peas, only the flowers are odorless and pink in color. It will grow well in a sunny place for many years, does not like transplanting, and overwinters without shelter. This is a drought-resistant plant and does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging. When grown from seeds, it will bloom in the second or third year of life.

China latifolia- a perennial with long, more than 2 meters climbing stems, clinging to the support with tendrils. The flowers are large, odorless, bloom all summer. The plant propagates easily by seeds.

Sweet pea planting and care.

Anyone can grow sweet peas in their garden, you just need to choose the right place to plant them. The way to grow it annual plant Can be through seedlings or sowing directly into open ground. Sweet peas will bloom profusely and for a long time if the plant is cared for correctly.

Sweet peas are a light-loving plant; the place for growing in the garden should be sunny, open and protected from the winds. Can grow in openwork partial shade, but does not like large differences between night and day temperatures, while flowers and buds may fall off.

The soil for growing sweet peas must be fertile, loose, and neutral. This plant should not be grown in constantly wet or frequently flooded areas with heavy and acidic soil. The taproot of peas goes deep into the soil, so the plant does not like transplants even at a young age; seedlings are grown in peat pots or carefully transferred into holes.

When grown from seedlings, sweet peas begin flowering in June. You can sow sweet peas directly into the ground in the spring, as soon as the soil is ready, but then flowering will begin in mid-summer.

For growing through seedlings, the pots are filled with loose nutritious soil. Sowing of seedlings is carried out in the second half of March. Soil for flower seedlings is mixed from two parts garden soil, 1 part peat and 1 part sand. Since sweet pea seeds are enclosed in a hard shell, before sowing they need to be soaked for 12 hours or two days, kept in a warm place until they hatch. Shoots of soaked seeds will appear in a week. Sweet pea seedlings are watered moderately and often ventilated so that the plants do not get sick with blackleg. To stimulate branching, young plants are pinched above the third true leaf.

Planting flower seedlings in open ground is carried out in the second half of May, since sweet peas tolerate short-term frosts, the planted plants do not need to be covered. The holes are placed at a distance of 20-25 cm so as not to damage root system, when transplanting from pots, the earthen lump is not destroyed; plants in peat pots are not removed.

Sweet pea (sweet pea) is nothing more than a fast-growing vine. A plant from the legume family, reproduces exclusively by seeds. Article topic: Sweet pea annual cultivation from seeds. There were cases when seeds did not germinate in the first year and were forgotten about. On next year they pleased the eye with their shoots. By the end of the season, being already an adult, it reaches a height of two meters. Dwarf varieties grow no higher than 40 cm.

Description of the plant, photo

The plant has thin ribbed stems, a pair of leaves, and tendrils at their ends. Thanks to its antennae, it clings to a support and grows upward, towards the sun. Initially, you need to monitor, guide, and also tie up in time. Dwarf species of sweet pea are also known. Their height reaches 40 cm. Such plants can decorate any window or balcony of a city dweller. They can be planted along the edges of flower beds in suburban areas.

The flower of the plant is very beautiful, it has a very delicate inflorescence, thanks to which an ordinary garden plot becomes like a real one paradise. The flowers are collected in large clusters, the peduncles are long and leafless.

The flower has a corolla and five brightly colored moth-like petals. The upper petal of the flower is the largest, its diameter is up to 6 cm. It is called “sail”. The two lower petals resemble a “boat”, and the “oars” form the two middle petals. The flower remains beautiful and fresh for up to 5 days.

The fruit of a plant of the legume family, naturally, is a bean. Only a few seeds ripen inside the fruit round shape. At proper storage seeds, observing the permissible humidity and temperature regime, their germination lasts up to 8 years.

Seeds are not always formed after flowering. The reason for this is the sharp change in temperature, both at night and during the day. Despite the fact that the china is not afraid of cold weather, the buds react strongly to changes in day and night temperatures. The buds and flowers fall off, the ovary does not occur. In addition to a sudden change in temperature, the cause may be improper care behind the flower.

There are many varieties of this plant known. They differ not only in the shape, size and color of the flower. You can choose the shade of the petals to your liking, thanks to the wide color palette. The plant is climbing, capable of entwining and thereby decorating any support with a real weightless carpet.

A delicate, refreshing aroma comes from the inflorescences of the plant. It fills the air not only in yours suburban area, but also in nearby areas. In addition to the tall plant, there are dwarf varieties sweet pea. The color of the flowers in each variety is different.

Benefits of growing sweet peas

Among summer residents, sweet peas are very popular. It has a lot of undeniable advantages, among which unpretentiousness stands out. Despite this, experienced gardeners give a number of tips that will help novice gardeners grow such a wonderful plant as sweet peas.

It is planted on balconies or loggias for landscaping purposes. A box with soil is suitable for planting; you should always remember to water the plant. Sweet peas, with their delicate flowers, will decorate any home of a city dweller: be it a balcony, loggia or window sill. And for the summer resident it will be the tallest, beautiful flower Location on. The aroma of its flowers can cheer up not only you and your family, but also your guests and beloved neighbors.

Know! Anyone can grow sweet peas.

The benefits of sweet pea include:

The height of the plant, thanks to which at any garden plot can be done decorative screen emitting a wonderful aroma.
Sweet peas climb well, they will decorate a nondescript wall of any building on the site, or serve as a weightless fence or partition. A comfortable, diffused shadow is obtained thanks to its weaving - this is very important on a hot and sunny day.
Unpretentiousness - grows not only in the shade, but also in the scorching sun. Able to withstand frost down to -5ºС.
Low-growing varieties do not need additional support.
High growth rate (when compared with perennial vines).
For an annual plant, the flowering period, it should be noted, is long, almost three months.
Possibility to grow it on the balcony of a city apartment or on a country plot. The southeast side will be favorable.
If you make a bouquet of pea flowers, it will look great and stay fresh for a long time.

Under what conditions does sweet pea grow?

Sweet peas are very popular, they are known and grown in different climatic zones. The plant prefers open, windless places where the soil is moist and drained.

You need to carefully monitor watering, avoid drying out and waterlogging. Clay soil and overwatering can cause disease and then death of the flower. Dry soil is not able to provide moisture to the root system.

Without moisture, the plant may dry out. Peas also do not like temperature changes. He warns about this by dropping buds and petals. This period is disastrous for him.

Sweet peas need to be planted in previously prepared soil, where their root system will develop normally. The soil should have neutral acidity. To reduce the acidity of the soil, liming will need to be done in advance.

It’s not difficult to prepare the soil yourself, the main thing is not to forget to add compost, potassium and phosphorus fertilizer. Compost must be placed in the soil to a depth of 15-30 cm, but this is by no means manure.

It is important to remember that fresh organic fertilizers can destroy the plant!

If the soil is being prepared for planting seeds for seedlings, then it should remain in the room where the seedlings will grow for some time. The earth just needs to warm up to room temperature. Then it is specially prepared, and then the seeds are sown.

Timing of sowing seeds

Before you plant this plant, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the conditions that will be optimal for its growth. If you decide, then there is no need to delay planting the plant, since its growing season is generally only three months. The sooner you plant an annual, the sooner it will delight you with its flowering.

For each climate zone, this plant is planted in different time. If in your climatic zone It is recommended to plant sweet peas in the spring; a prerequisite is that the soil must be heated to a sufficient depth. Otherwise, the seeds will simply freeze. You can prepare for this process in advance and grow seedlings.

Important! Plant only in warm soil. If the winter is very harsh and protracted, then it is recommended to plant sweet peas in a greenhouse or any other enclosed space.

City dwellers manage to do this in an apartment or on a balcony. The main condition is compliance with the temperature regime, which will be favorable for the flower.

If the climate is moderate, they begin to think about planting at the end of April, beginning of May. We are talking about planting seeds in open ground. The soil has warmed up, which means the seeds should not freeze. Thanks to warmth and precipitation, seeds germinate quickly. Soon the tree begins to bloom.

How to prepare seeds for planting

As you know, seeds have a fairly hard shell. Experienced gardeners easily discover the secrets of preparing seeds for planting. Seeds that do not “hatch” after soaking must be further processed. To do this, you will need a whole set of tools: a small knife or manicure scissors, an awl or needle and sandpaper.

Using sandpaper, the seeds are rubbed or, with a little effort, rolled over the paper. This action will make the shell a little thinner and softer. Using nail scissors or a knife, each grain needs to be cut, and a needle or awl can be pierced. The presence of a hard shell on pea seeds is not a reason to refuse to plant this plant on your site.

If you bought grayish-brown or brown pea seeds, you need to soak them before planting. Seeds that are light cream in color can be dispensed with without soaking. They are planted in the ground dry. Don't mix anything up.

It is not recommended to combine seeds different varieties. They are placed in different containers and filled with warm or hot water, for about a day. Seeds that float can be safely thrown away, as they are empty and will not sprout.

The container with seeds should be temporarily removed in a warm place where it is dark. After a day, the water is drained and the seeds are covered with a damp cloth. You need to ensure that the fabric does not dry out. Instead of fabric for seeds, sawdust or moistened sand is suitable. If you observe the temperature regime, you will see seedlings within one to two weeks. Sprouted seeds should be planted immediately.

Important! Do not let the seeds dry out - moisten the soil in time.

Planting and growing annuals

To get a sweet pea plant, you need to buy seeds - it reproduces only by seeds. It can be grown both from seeds and from seedlings. Each method has its own advantages.

Sweet peas can be planted in open ground only after the snow has melted and the ground has warmed up sufficiently. Holes are made on a selected plot of land, 2-3 cm deep, at a distance of 10-20 cm. 2-3 peas are placed in each hole, the hole is covered with earth, and regularly watered abundantly. Abundant watering is very important for future flowers and for the development of their root system.

Important! Be sure to properly prepare your sweet pea seeds before planting.

To grow china seedlings, you need to prepare soil mixture. It is used to fill deep narrow containers, which can be used as plastic cups or peat pots. A depression is made in the container, 2-3 “seeds” are placed in it, covered with earth and, as in the previous case, watered abundantly for two whole weeks. Do not bury the seeds deeply - you will have to wait a long time for germination.

The temperature for growing seedlings should be at least 15 degrees. In sunny weather, the seedlings are taken out to a closed balcony in the sun for hardening. As the air outside warms up, the balcony is opened.

The time the seedlings spend in the air increases every day. It is necessary to fertilize the plant a couple of times to stimulate growth. After some time, if the seedlings grow in plastic cups, it will be noticeable how the root of the sweet pea tightly entwines the ground.

When the future seedlings “throw out” a couple of leaves, the growing point is pinched. Do the same with the side shoots, then add fertilizer. This is done so that the flower grows its root mass, and the plant itself becomes like a bush. Thanks to its strong root system, the flower can grow tall and neither fall nor break if tied up.

Sweet pea seedlings should be planted in open ground at the end of May. The day before planting seedlings, it is better not to water them. This way it can be painlessly pulled out of the cup and replanted on the ground without damaging the root.

Planting in open ground and care

Areas that are protected from the wind are suitable for planting sweet peas. Having planted seedlings on open ground, for the first two to three days they need to be covered with something from direct sun rays, make an artificial shadow.

This period is very important for seedlings - they must “get over the disease”, their growth stops. But if everything is done correctly, then within a week the annual will come to life, new, more powerful shoots will appear on it. The root system will have the opportunity for further growth and strengthening in open ground.

A flower that is planted in open ground needs regular weeding and abundant watering. Weeding needs to be done to rid it of its neighbors - weeds. After rain, weeding is necessary to prevent the formation of a “crust” of dry soil, which prevents oxygen from entering the soil.

It is necessary to prepare in advance the supports on which the climbing plant will rest. You can use a net or string as a support. The shoots of the flower, as they grow, need to be oriented in the right direction, and do not forget to tie them up.

During the growth process, the plant will need a nutrient substrate as a supplement. It is added after hilling sweet peas to stimulate the development of adventitious shoots.

In order for sweet peas to bloom for a long time and please the eye in your garden, you need to do the following: pruning, and also removing faded twigs and dry leaves. If you don’t do this, flowering will end in a month.

To obtain seeds, you need to leave a few pods on each annual bush. In order for the seeds to fully ripen, there must be enough sunlight, heat. The area where the flower grows must be protected from drafts.

Attention! If you want to get seeds, create the conditions.

Don't forget about proper watering. If a flower is flooded, it can be affected by various diseases, including root rot. Garden pests may also appear: snails, slugs. This cannot be allowed to happen. It is very difficult to fight them.

If you properly care for sweet peas and follow all the recommendations, the plant will certainly delight you and your guests with its flowering all summer long.

Soil, fertilizing

Sweet peas grow well in fertile soil that is not supplemented with fresh organic fertilizers. In order for the plant to feel great on the balcony, it needs to be planted in deeper containers. And everything is done to ensure that the growing root system develops correctly.

Poorly fertilized soil negatively affects the flowering of annuals. If the soil is fertilized above the norm, then an increase in green mass occurs. Flowering occurs later than always, the number of flowers is small. There are practically no seeds.

The plant needs to be fed and watered regularly. It is recommended to use as a top dressing mineral fertilizers, which have a low nitrogen content.

Seedlings planted on the ground receive their first feeding after a week. To do this, you will need a bucket of water with urea and nitrophoska dissolved in it. One tablespoon of urea and nitrophoska per bucket of water is enough. The flower will need a second feeding when it begins to bloom. The third feeding is during the period of vigorous flowering.

Know! Thanks to feeding, the annual will delight you with its blooms all summer long.

Soil fertility has a beneficial effect on most leguminous plants. These include the fragrant china. In the process of decomposition of the remains of the root system, the soil is enriched with nitrogen. Thus, the plant is able to provide itself with nitrogen. It is not recommended to plant sweet peas in one place for more than two years in a row. Experts say that it will not bloom beautifully.

Sweet pea is not a capricious plant, this is not difficult to understand. Need to create optimal conditions, taking into account some features.

Planting peas using seeds is much easier than planting seedlings. Seedlings are capricious; they need time to “get over it.” The plant has a good root system that goes very deep into the soil.
Replanting it without damaging the root system is almost impossible. The plant grows quickly, and it is possible that its stems may be damaged or broken during replanting. If you decide to plant sweet peas on open ground seedlings, then you need to replant them together with an earthen pot.
Peas have a dense seed coat, which causes uneven germination. Professionals, trying to speed up the process, came up with little tricks: the seeds are pre-soaked, rubbed with sandpaper, and cut.
Fast growth. To weave it in a timely manner, you need to install the mesh or supports in time. It is recommended to tie the plant during growth.
The root system of sweet peas is well developed and goes deep into the soil. Therefore, watering should be abundant and regular.

China fragrant and traditional medicine

The healing properties of the annual plant have not been fully studied. ethnoscience has been using it for a long time. It strengthens the immune system, helps with colds and vitamin deficiency. For insomnia, diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract, a decoction of pea tubers is prepared. Tincture of the plant treats respiratory tract disease. It has a good expectorant effect.

Conclusion

Sweet peas are easy to care for and beautiful plant. It is very popular among experienced gardeners. An annual flower, not capricious. Anyone can grow it, despite the number of recommendations. The beauty and tenderness of flowers, a pleasant aroma will lift your spirits and relieve any pain. You will definitely like the sweet pea plant!

Decorate your garden with gently blooming and fragrant flower will not be difficult. Sweet peas will look great in any corner of your garden, entwining supports with a weightless veil and filling the air with a subtle aroma.

Growing from seeds - natural way reproduction sweet pea. There are two options here:

growing seedlings
planting seeds in open ground

The first method is quite labor-intensive. Experts say that it is undesirable to grow peas as seedlings.

Firstly, there is little light on the windowsill and young shoots will be strongly stretched. Secondly, there will be difficulties with planting seedlings in the ground. The fact is that sweet peas have a powerful root system and when transplanting you need to try not to break the earthen lump. Otherwise roots may be damaged, and the plant will die.

It should also be noted that the stems of young plants are very fragile. You risk breaking it during transplantation.

The second method also has its own nuances. flower seeds have good germination. At the same time, their shell is too strong. For germination it is necessary long time, and they sprout unevenly.

Many gardeners resort to various tricks: soaking the seeds, cutting the shell, wiping with sandpaper.

Deadlines for planting

When to plant annual sweet peas depends on the climate conditions in your region, as well as the plant variety. Different types have different frost resistance.

The moment of disembarkation itself should not be postponed. The growing season of this flower is long - about two to three months. Therefore, the sooner you plant sweet peas, the sooner they will please you abundant flowering and a unique aroma.

In conditions mild subtropical climate You can plant the plant in the ground in November. IN moderate climate, it is better to plant sweet peas in early spring.

In conditions harsh Russian winters The planting dates are moving towards February. Only you need to plant it not in open ground, but in the form of seedlings. After the snow melts, seedlings should be planted permanent place. Seeds are sown in open ground in late April-early May.

How to plant correctly

Soil preparation

If you decide to grow sweet peas using seedlings, you will need to prepare the soil for planting in advance. To do this, it’s still necessary in the fall prepare garden soil.

It is better to do this before the first frost. Store the excavated soil on the balcony or in another cold place throughout the winter.

A week before the intended planting, the soil must be brought into warm room, can be placed next to the battery to warm it up.

Before planting the seeds, mix it with peat soil for seedlings. After this, all that remains is to fill the boxes or cups with the resulting soil, water them generously and place them on a warm windowsill. You can start preparing the seeds.

Seed preparation

Experienced gardeners prefer to prepare seeds in several ways:

seeds carefully wipe between layers sandpaper to weaken their natural shell
cut with small scissors the surface of the seed to facilitate its germination
soak them before boarding

To soak the seeds, each variety of sweet pea is placed in a separate container, then filled with hot water. The water temperature should not exceed 60 degrees.

Before soaking, pay attention to the color of the seeds. Light brown seeds may die if soaked! It is better to plant them dry.

After a day, the water is drained and the seeds are covered with a damp cloth or cotton pad. At regular moisturizing napkins, shoots appear in 5-10 days. Now the seeds can be planted.

Bedding

Depending on the method of planting the plant, you need to plant either seedlings or germinated seeds in the ground.

The advantage of planting pea seedlings is their early flowering.

When favorable weather without frost sets in, sweet pea seedlings can be transplanted into the ground. To prevent the soil from falling off the roots of the plant, the seedlings are watered abundantly and the walls of the cup are cut to successfully remove the root system along with the earthen lump.

At the planting site, make depressions at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other. The seedlings are placed in these depressions, covered with earth and compacting the surface.

For young plants, it is better to immediately place supports, since the stems are very fragile. You may need some shade from the bright sun at first.

When planting sweet pea seeds directly into the ground, proceed as follows. After the snow melts, if the ground has warmed up enough, the seeds sow 2-3 pieces at once into the ground.

Make 2-3 cm depressions in the ground at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. Prepared germinated plant seeds are planted in them.

Rules for caring for the plant after planting

For intensive growth and lush flowering After planting the plant in the ground, it is necessary to provide it with proper care.

First of all, this concerns watering. Sweet peas love water, but does not tolerate waterlogging and stagnation of water. It is recommended to water abundantly, but not too often. 1-2 times a week is enough.

Typically, three feedings are made for this flower.

After the first shoots appear, use complex mineral fertilizer.
At the beginning of budding, fertilizing is necessary, for example, Agricola.
During flowering, fertilizer for flowering plants.

To adapt seedlings when planting seedlings, young plants should be shaded for several days. Then provide access to sunlight for at least 5-6 hours a day.

When planting sweet peas in a shaded area, flowering should be expected later and less abundant.

Young shoots need a garter. It is recommended to use twine or mesh as support. When tying, you can control the direction of plant growth and direct it in the desired direction.

Does it need to be trimmed?

This plant does not require pruning of branches, as it is a climbing plant with flexible stems that can be directed in the direction of growth. But for lush flowering, it is necessary to remove faded buds in time. This will ensure longer flowering until late autumn.

At the end of flowering, before winter the plant cut at the root and covered with sawdust for insulation.
Growing sweet peas is not as labor-intensive as it might seem at first glance. A little care and maintenance is enough for this plant to bloom abundantly and fragrantly.

Hello, dear friends!

For several years now, I have been growing perennial sweet peas on my plot. Another name for this beautiful ornamental plant- “China.” Pea seeds appeared on sale not so long ago, but the plant quickly gained popularity among gardeners. So is it difficult to grow perennial sweet peas in your garden?

So, let's start in order, with growing seedlings.

Seeds are sown for seedlings in February. Before sowing, they must be soaked for 36–48 hours in a warm solution of the drug (1–2 grams of the drug per 1 liter of hot (50 degrees) water).

As a soil for growing seedlings, it is best to take ready-made flower soil “Rose” or “Saintpaulia”. The soil is poured into the box in a layer of 10 centimeters, then a groove is made 1.5 - 2 centimeters deep, spilled with a solution (1 tablet per 1 liter of water) at room temperature (24 - 25 degrees). Seeds are sown directly from the jar. The distance between the seeds is large, about 12 centimeters from each other, so that in May you can easily remove the seedlings for planting together with big lump land.

Caring for perennial sweet pea seedlings is not difficult. You just need to monitor watering and not overwater the plants, and also feed the seedlings a couple of times. For feeding, use the following solution: dilute 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska and 1 tablespoon in 3 liters of water.

The first feeding is carried out 12 days after emergence, and the second – 12 days after the first feeding. It is imperative to harden the seedlings by placing them on an open balcony in April.

Seedlings are planted in May, and immediately in a permanent place. Over the summer, the peas will reach 1 - 1.5 meters in height, so it is advisable to stretch a net, twine or other support next to the plants.

Already in the first year of growing perennial sweet peas, you will see beautiful blooms of bright crimson, orange and snow-white inflorescences up to 50 centimeters long.

Watering perennial sweet peas is carried out rarely, in drought - once a week, but very abundantly, up to 30 - 35 liters per 1 square meter.

During the entire period of plant growth and development in open ground, it is advisable to carry out 3 feedings.

The first fertilizing is carried out at the beginning of stem growth. To do this, you need to dilute 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska and urea in 10 liters of water.

The second feeding is carried out at the beginning of the flowering phase. To do this, dilute 1 tablespoon and Agricola-7 in 10 liters of water.

The third feeding is done during flowering. To do this, dilute 1 tablespoon in 10 liters of water. organic fertilizer"Rossa" and "Agricola for flowering plants". The consumption of this solution is 3 – 4 liters per 1 sq. m. meter.

That's all for today, dear friends! See you!