Do sweet peas need a trellis?
One of the most common questions about sweet peas is, do you need a trellis to plant one? This question often comes from people who just recently started gardening in their past times.
By nature, sweet peas are vining. It means they need to lean and wrap on something to grow properly. It also means that caring can be tricky at times.
Anyhow, the trellis has to be at the right height and strength. A little misdirection can cause your flowers to crumple into one. And you sure don’t want this result.
You also can use a fence or mesh wire instead of a trellis as long as the structure is sturdy enough to carry the plant’s weight. You also need to prepare the structure during the planting time.
What if my sweet peas are not blooming?
Before you start, you need to know that sweet peas don’t like hot temperatures. The plant chooses the cool of spring and early summer. Therefore, you need to start sowing at the right time.
Sweet peas start blooming after 4-6 weeks of planting. And sometimes, the flowers can grow faster. When that’s the case, you must do careful trimming and pinch the buds back early.
Pinching the buds can slow down growth. But don’t let that discourage you since you will receive a fuller and bushier flower bush later.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to jeopardize your sweet peas. They need water, but only so the soil gets moist instead of damp. They also only need occasional fertilizer.
Is Sweet pea easy to care for?
Unlike popular belief, sweet peas are easy to care for. The problem lies with people who underestimate the plant. Thus they don’t get the gorgeous flowers they should.
You need to keep the soil moist, not damp or even wet. Don’t forget to fertilize occasionally to keep the plant healthy. As an annual plant, sweet peas can last for many months. But they will start to wither when the heat is unbearable.
When your sweet peas start withering, it’s time to start deadheading the plant. You’re lucky to live in a warmer area since sweet peas can reseed themselves. But a colder climate means you need to save the seeds for safekeeping.
How to cut sweet peas
Sweet peas are one of the most popular flowers for a bouquet, especially because it’s an annual flower. Unfortunately, that makes people think the flower is good to cut at any time.
And since some sweet peas variants can be quite fragrant, you sure want to have them as long as you want. Fresh-cut sweet peas can last up to 5 days in the vase before they start to wither.
You must choose the flower with the longest stem when you cut sweet peas. Cut diagonally to get most of the stem to stay hydrated inside the vase. However, be careful about cutting the main stem by accident.
Now that you know how to cut them, you need to know when to cut them. Sweet peas can be sensitive to heat. When they receive a little sunshine, the flower can lose moisture. Therefore, the perfect time to cut sweet peas is right before dawn.
Can you mix sweet peas with other plants in the trellis?
Being a vine plant, you may think of combining sweet peas with other plants and having a living bouquet. While it’s good in the picture, it can be a logistical nightmare.
Sweet peas require a good space for regular nips. And the roots and stem can take most of the trellis. Don’t forget that you also need some space to
However, some plants work well with the sweet peas, albeit not sharing the trellis. Small or round bush flowers such as roses, sweet alyssum, or lavender will be a good companions for your sweet peas.
Another option is to have the other plants in the pots while the sweet peas are in the arch or trellis. But the beautiful garden you wish for is only some extra steps away.
Can you have sweet peas in a pot?
Even though sweet peas are vines, it doesn’t mean that you can’t plant them in a pot. Due to their nature, sweet peas have large and strong roots that will reflect how big the plants are.
However, you can contain it in a pot or a hanging basket. Sweet peas will automatically adjust the size to match their containers. So don’t be surprised if your hanging sweet peas are not as big as the ones on the trellis.
Having sweet peas in a pot also means you must constantly watch the growth and trim more often than planting with the trellis. But at the same time, it’s easier to manage water and fertilizer.