Peas have a distinct blossom which makes them noticeable just about anywhere they show up, from wild peas growing up a rickety fence to peas which are grown at home in our own gardens. The best thing about these plants however, is not their unique blossoms, but the tiny tendrils which add to the overall charm of the plant, curling up every few inches as if looking for the next area to claim.
Getting optimal results for your sweet peas means you’ll need to plant the seeds in the early fall in order to get the blooms by winter and the peas by early spring. As with just about anything else, the quicker you get them in the ground once the cool season has hit, the better. In fact, consider yourself lucky if you get blossoms on your first go, as it can take diligence and the right amount of patience to find the perfect spot to grow your peas. However, there are a few tips and tricks you can keep in mind to help you find the right spot, the first time.
Keep in mind that peas love rich soil and an area with full sun. In addition, planting your peas next to an old fence or just a stake so the peas can climb is what will ensure the success of your plant. Of course, these are just basic tips that any gardener would find useful, but the most valuable tip I can give you is to choose pea plants such as the Spencer or Early plant. These plants bloom rather quickly, so you have more time to allow your plant the environment it needs to produce delicious sweet peas. Other plants such as Cuthbertsons and Floribundas are spring flowering peas and are not recommended for growth in California, as by spring, the cool season is nearly at an end.
Creating the ideal environment for your peas is as simple as finding the sunniest spot in your garden. Sweet peas require an obscene amount of space as well, so it’s recommended you plant them away from other plants so the peas do not strangle them. In fact, many gardeners grow their sweet peas in the centre of their gardens with other plants on the outskirts to give the peas enough room.
In addition to a sunny location, sweet peas thrive in rich soil. The best thing you can do for your sweet peas is obtain cow manureom your local farmer. This manure is rich in the minerals and nutrients sweet peas love to thrive in, and once you dig a trench at least a foot deep and add the manure, your soil will be well on its way to supporting healthy pea plants.
Once your location and soil has been taken care of to accommodate your peas, you’ll need a trellis for them to grow. Peas constantly search for support as soon as they pop above ground, which means you should have the trellis up before you get your little seedlings. Keeping the size of the plant in mind, always use a string or wire trellis so the plant will be able to grasp it.
Soaking the seeds over night before you plant them can soften the tough outer coat and help speed up the germination process. However, soaking too long can cause the seed to rot, so the best option here is keeping the seed bed moist until germination. This is the best process I know of for producing sweet handfuls of peas in California and is dedicated to @chariscoleman.
If anyone wants more information on getting sweet pea seeds to grow in California, or you’d like to request a post on anything, please feel free to contact me at @AskGarden or by emailing me using the contact form.
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