With their delicate, butterfly-like blooms and that heavenly, nostalgic scent, sweet peas are a total garden favorite. Every year, these little climbers have to start from a tiny seed and race against the clock to put on their spectacular show. If you’re wondering how to give your sweet peas the best head start possible, I’ve got you covered!
Direct Sowing vs. Starting Indoors: Which is Better?
You can start sweet peas indoors in March, or sow them directly in the garden come April. But does that four-week head start actually make a difference? Honestly, not really. When you start them inside, you eventually have to deal with the hassle of pricking them out and transplanting them. Sweet peas aren’t big fans of being moved; every “change of scenery” can actually weaken the plant and lead to fewer flowers. Since these climbers are naturally fast growers, direct-sown seeds will usually catch up and start blooming by June anyway.
Prepping Your Soil for Success
First things first: find a sunny spot that already has something for them to climb on. Planting near a fence is a classic move—those thin little tendrils love having something to grab onto!
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Boost the nutrient levels by adding some good quality compost.
- Sift the compost well and work it into the top layer of soil.
- Make sure the entire seedbed is nice and crumbly.
The Secret Step: Soak Your Seeds
To help your seeds sprout faster, give them a little “spa day” before planting. Just pop them into a bowl of lukewarm water the night before you plan to garden. Let them soak overnight to soften the outer shell.
How to Sow Your Sweet Peas
- In your prepped garden bed, draw out furrows about 1.5 to 2 inches (4-5 cm) deep. If you’re doing multiple rows, space them about 12 inches (30 cm) apart.
- Drop two seeds into the furrow every 2 inches (5 cm).
- Cover the seeds with about 2 inches (5 cm) of soil.
- Alternatively, you can plant “clusters” of three seeds at specific spots where you want them to climb.
- Give them a good drink, but use a gentle setting on your hose so you don’t wash the seeds away.
Pro Tip:
Cover your planting area with a fine mesh net. This keeps the local birds from treats your seeds like a free buffet!
Thinning and Pinching for Bushier Blooms
In about 2-3 weeks (assuming temperatures are around 60°F/15°C), you’ll see those first green shoots popping up. Once they’re about 4 inches (10 cm) tall, thin them out so the strongest plants are spaced about 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) apart.
Now, here’s the most important part: “pinch” your plants! Use your fingers to snip off the top of each stem just above the first pair of leaves. It might feel a little mean, but I promise it’s worth it—this encourages the plant to branch out and grow bushy rather than leggy, which means way more flowers for you to enjoy!
