My Dad loves sweet peas (reminds him of his childhood) but has zero luck growing them. I would like to surprise him this spring with a flat of them. But I have not grown them myself before.

I have read or saw somewhere that you need pierce the hard shell of the seed with finger nail clippers and/or soak them in water for 24 hours before planting them. I'm not totally sure.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

If they have been in a seed packet & not laying on the ground, yes, you need to score them to get them to open for the plant.

I prefer soaking mine....There are perennial & annual types also vineing/trailing and dwarf...Make sure you read the seed pack...I would hate for you to spend all that time and not have the right kind....Also start them indoors 10-12 weeks b-4 putting them os....You can do it...What a great gift for your dad....Good Luck....

I finally gave up on seeds and got the perennial kind and they're wonderful.

I tried several kinds of seeds -- seeds from the perennial kind, seeds from packets, and seeds from friends who swore they were viable.

And every year I'd follow instructions carefully, get them in the ground by late February, soak them overnight, nick them with a knife, etc. I could never get them to grow. A couple of times they sprouted but didn't thrive.

Now the perennials grow profusely, spill all over the place, they bloom all summer and late into December, even after the first couple of light frosts.

And they're gorgeous, and their seeds look just like the seeds I tried to grow all those years.

And if I remember correctly, they're only about $5 for 3 plants from the mail-order nurseries. And they can be planted anytime, if you keep them watered.

Update on the sweetpeas.

It took 3 tries but I got them finally growing.

1st try I tried clipping the hard shell and soaking for 24 hours like the seed packet said. Put in potting soil about 1/2 inch. Placed in indirect sunlight. Got nothing.

2nd try soaked for 24 hours no clipping. Put in potting soil 1/2 inch in mini greenhouse in full morning sun and late day sun. Got 2 to come up.

3rd try. New packets of seeds. No soaking, clipped the outer shell, put damp/rung out potting mix in bottom of potting containers. Barely covered seeds with potting mix, used mister to dampen the potting mix on top. Put in mini greenhouse in morning sun and late day sun. About 90% are growing.

Could of just been the seeds but bottom line they are growing now.

Two weeks ago I planted seeds I bought in packets at Lowe's. They have come up in all 4 spots I put them. Some full sun, some shade/sun.

I soaked them overnight in an inch or two of water. No clipping and didn't do anything to great to plant them. Made a line in the ground with my small shovel or poked my finger into the soil and then covered them.

JBT ~ Your post brought back memories of my DGM. She had sweet peas all along the fence in the back yard. I have not had any luck with them.

I will try your method. I would love to have them in my little yard. Will you have something that they can grow up on? If so, please let me know.

Thanks again for the memory ~ Good times.


Progress not perfection

The sweetpeas are about 6-7 inches tall and getting a little leggy and need something to climb on. Anyone have a good temporary ideas? I was thinking of just grabbing some dead little sticks. I can't put them outside yet.

The plan is to get a good size pot (12 inches maybe 14) and put some sort of trellis in the pot with the sweetpeas and give it to him on Father's day.

Had one little set back when I left the greenhouse top on too long an when the sweetpeas reached the top the were in contact to long with the wet/condensation top and the leaves rotted a little. Took the top off and they bounced back nicely.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: patman75,

I planted my sweetpeas in the fall...I didn't do anything to them..they are finally starting to bloom...maybe it just depend son where you live...not sure

mine are an inch or so outta the ground. They will have a trellis to grow on when they reach it.

I have printed off all the tips that are here about Sweet Peas.

I have another question. I am aware that the first day of summer is mid-June, but is there still time for me to start these in small pots and transplant when they are the right height? I read that some of you planted as early as Fall. Others in Spring. It will still be HOT in South Texas when it is fall in other places.

The local plant houses seldom have sweet pea plants.

I hope I made myself clear. Please help.



Progress, not perfection

Yes you can still start your Sweet Peas.....They will bloom later then if you had started them earlier in the season.....Happy Growing......

Thanks Kim!

KJH