love for its delightful scent , Sweet pea(Lathyrus odorata)is a delicate vining beauty that will add color and charm to your landscape . While there are a handful of variety show that are perennial , the sweet pea is considered an annual with flowers that bloom in tone of red , pinkish , blue , over-embellished , and ashen . Sweet pea plant will produce to be well over three foot tall with support . It can provide a pretty backdrop for broken growing plants and is stunning enough to be a remain firm - alone garden feature .
Where sweet pea flowers spring up is changeable . plant scientist have been enchanted with the odorous pea as far back as the former 1600 ’s . In the 1800 ’s , a botanist from England name Eckford began hybridizing and pick out these beloved garden treasure to grow beautifully formed large variety . As the sweet-smelling pea evolved and became hardier in nerveless clime , it became more approachable . More and more gardener begin to delight and embrace the fragrant beauty . Sweet pea varieties eventually made their means to the U.S. where growers have developed kind more tolerant to the part ’s spicy and humid summers .
Planting sweet pea
There are a few rule to follow when planting angelical pea plant . Sweet pea loves the sun , so provide a full sunlight to fond wraith fix . However , keep in judgement that while it thrives in the sun , it will not flower if feeling overheated . For hotter part , afternoon shade will bring home the bacon some heat relief . Sweet pea is a undecomposed garden option for cool , dry garden areas .
The fresh pea command moist soil with fantabulous drainage . Give your sweet pea plants human elbow room to further good airwave circulation . Mulch around the base of the plant to keep the roots cool .
Your honeyed pea plant flora will involve a livelihood . ply the living when you establish the seeded player or transplant . These lively agriculturist will require the financial backing shortly after sprouting . Guide the first tendrils to the reinforcement , and the sweet pea will trail upwards on its own after that .

Plant fresh pea from seed . Where winters are insensate , plant seeds indoors in single 3 to 4 inch containers in early outflow . Transplant carefully without disturb the roots . Sweet pea seedling are hardier than most annual seedlings and will handle a signature of freeze after you have transplanted outdoors .
Where winters are more soft and summer are raging , flora directly in the solid ground after Labor Day . This will give the seeds clock time to put stem down and to become vigorous growers in the spring . Plant directly in tardy spring in locations with milder winters and cooler summers where you’re able to enjoy late summertime blooms .
Pests and problems
Young perfumed peas are susceptible to wench , bullet and snails until they are four or five inches magniloquent , so protection from these pests will expect a diligent and keen oculus . The sweet pea is also prone to mildew , so give it way for good breeze circulation to curb this job . Aphids and thrips are possible pests for the bloom sweetened pea . The bloom do not respond well to insecticidal goop , so a strong atomiser of water will usually thwart the aphids . Blue sticky trap hung among the plants will draw the thrips aside from the plants .
Sweet peas grow and behave much like their relatives , edible peas . However , sweet pea are not to be corrode . The seed that are bring forth by the plant after blossom are toxicant if ingested in large quantity .
Sweet pea varieties worth trying
‘ Cupid Color Palette ’ is a dwarf variety of sweet pea that will cascade 8 to 10 inch . This variety will add a graceful touch to a windowpane box or small garden country with pink , white , and lavender ( mixed / bi - colored ) blossom .
‘ Saltwater Taffy Swirls ’ is a yummy - looking diversity that will vine 6 to 8 feet . Its blooms are swirled in all colors and ointment .
‘ Velvet Elegance ’ is a regal beauty that grows 6 to 8 feet tall with maroon , violet - blue , and crimson - red flowers and is alone because it is not especially fragrant .

To learn more about growing sweet peas , chat :
http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/sweet-peas-lathryus-odoratus.aspx?id=105310
http://extension.missouri.edu/news/DisplayStory.aspx?N=1735