| Sweet Pea Plants |  |
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| Sweet Peas are easy to grow but do need some kind of structure to climb up such as canes, netting, fence or trellis. Plants can be planted from February onwards but some protection from cold winds and extremely cold weather may be necessary. |
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| On arrival | | | • | Unpack your plants as soon as they arrive and check that everything you expect is enclosed. | | • | Water any plants that have dried out in transit. | | • | Your plants will be large enough to plant straight into the garden but if you wish to grow them on they should be potted up within a day or two into 7.5cm pots (3in), however they should stay in good condition for a week or so if well-watered. If not planting immediately plants should be left in a cool, light, sheltered, place such as a greenhouse or cold frame. |
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| Growing on | | | • | Before potting up, thoroughly water your plants and leave to drain for half an hour. | | • | If re-using old pots wash them first in a mild disinfectant solution and rinse well. | | • | Fill your pots with a good potting compost as this will contain more nutrients and reduce the need for additional feeding. | | • | Simply make a hole large enough to accommodate the roots with a dibber and plant so that the top of the root-ball is at compost level. | | • | Water well. | | • | Grow on for a few weeks in a light sheltered frost-free spot out of direct sunlight, preferably a cool greenhouse or cold frame. | | • | When your plants are large enough and have produced enough roots to hold the compost together, they should be ready for planting out. Simply put your plants outside during the day providing it is not bitterly cold and bring them in at night, and after a week or two they can be left outside or planted out. |
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| Planting out | | Sweet Peas do best in a well-drained, but moist soil in sun and the soil should be firm (not newly dug). Allow about 20cm (8") between plants. |
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| | • | Get together all the things you'll need: Trowel, Planting Compost, Plants | | • | Make a hole large enough to accommodate the roots about 8cm (2-3") away from the structure they are to climb up. Mix an equal amount of planting compost with the soil and add a general-purpose fertiliser. Place your plant in the hole to check it is big enough. | | • | If pot grown tap the plant out of its pot. | | • | Place in the hole, ensuring that the top of the compost is just below soil level and then fill in with the soil mixture and firm down by pressing the soil gently around each plant. | | • | Water well. | | • | Placing short twigs in front of the plants for a few days will deter birds, which are sometimes attracted to the soft shoots. |
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| Aftercare | | | • | Although natural climbers, plants may need tying in lightly with garden twine. | | • | Water frequently even on overcast days, particularly if it is windy as the soil can still dry out. Plants are best watered in the early morning or early evening. | | • | Feed plants about once a week with a general plant food such as tomato food. | | • | Pick flowers at regular intervals and you should have flowers to the end of August. Try not to allow seed pods to form as this will shorten the flowering period. | | • | There are generally few pest problems but greenfly and slugs may on occasions need to be controlled using an appropriate treatment. |
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