Sweet Pea Old Spice mix consists of flowers in a very colourfull, aromatic and striking mixture of different shades of purple, red, dark pink, light pink and white. This variety has a very good tolerance against drought and warmth.Sweet Pea is also called Annual Sweet Pea, Fragrant Pea and Lathyrus odoratus. Sweet Pea originates from southern Italy and Sicily. The Sweet Pea is a member of the Fabaceae family, along with: Broom, Laburnum, Wisteria, Anthropophagus, Sweet Clover, Potato Turf, Lupine, Field Trefoil, Red Clover, Vetchling, Broad Bean, French Bean, Peanut, Rooibos, Chickpea, Judas Tree, Carob Tree, and Touch-Me-Not. This family not only includes all sorts of beautiful and often wonderfully fragrant flowers, but also a number of very important nutrients. The family is found almost worldwide. Sweet Peas are wonderful, beautiful, and delightful annual climbers that aren't only a feast for the eyes but also emit a delightful fragrance. The Latin name, Lathyrus orodatus, reflects this. This rapidly climbing plant can reach a height of up to 200 cm. Let it climb along a shrub, wall, trellis, fence, or a specially designed pyramid. Sweet Peas also make beautiful and fragrant cut flowers.
Give this plant a sunny, sheltered spot with nutrient-rich soil. The type of soil isn't so important, but the sweet pea does need an airy structure. These plants climb quickly thanks to their tentacles. However, the plants does need some help in the beginning. Tie them up. They usually begin to flower after the longest day in June. Never let the plants dry out. The sweet pea is also very popular with bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects. Regularly remove spent flowers. Pick the flowers regularly to prevent seed pods from forming. The sweet pea is a unique, beautiful, and easy-to-grow garden plant that comes in a wide variety of colors. Something for everyone. Use it as a delightfully scented cut flower, as a climber on fences, or palisades. It's also very suitable for brightening up a dull corner of the garden and for sowing with children. It can also be used to create a home-grown, home-picked, and wonderfully scented cut flower bouquet. Sweet pea flowers from June till October. Non hardy annual. Height: 180 - 200 cm.
Indoor sowing/ under glass: April - May
Outdoor sowing: end of May - June
Germination: 10 - 21 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 21°C
Sowing depth: 1 - 1½ cm
Distance between the rows: 25 - 30 cm
Planting distance: 30 - 40 cm
Plant position: sunny - sheltered
Flowering period: June - October
Sow indoors from April onwards in pots approximately 7.5 cm in diameter. Sow one seed per pot and cover the seeds with 1-1.5 cm of seed compost. Press gently and keep moist, especially during germination. Cover the pots with plastic wrap or a propagator lid. Store at a temperature of approximately 18-21°C. Keep the temperature as even as possible and do not allow it to drop, especially at night. As soon as the young seedlings emerge, remove the plastic wrap or lid. Once the young seedlings are 5 cm tall, pinch out the tops to encourage side shoot growth. Harden off the seedlings by placing them outside during the day for about 10-14 days starting in mid-May. At the end of May, once there is no longer any risk of night frost, they can be planted outside in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Allow 30-40 cm space between plants. Keep the soil weed-free and moist. Provide support for the plant.
From late May, when there is no longer any risk of night frost, you can also sow directly in the ground. Sow thinly in rows 25-30 cm apart and cover the seeds with a 1-1.5 cm layer of seed compost. Press gently and keep moist. Once the young seedlings are 5 cm tall, pinch out the tops to encourage side shoot growth. Thin the young seedlings to 30-40 cm per plant. Keep them weed-free and moist. Provide a support for the plants. Soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours before sowing promotes better germination. Sweet peas require a sunny, sheltered location with well-drained, fertile soil.
Note: Sweet pea seeds are poisonous.
