SWEET PEA

Sweet pea problems

When I lived on the prairies I grew beautiful sweet peas and cut them all summer. But I've yet to grow a successful planting of sweet peas here on the west coast although others have done it. How?

You obviously are aware of the importance of soil quality for sweet peas. The ideal to aim for is a deep, moist, humusy soil that is not acid. If your soil is acid, add a dusting of dolomite lime to the other soil amendments. And make sure any manures used are well composted. If you can, dig organic matter like seaweed, compost, and composted manures into next year's sweet pea site in autumn.

You might want to try switching to a slow-release, natural-source fertilizer for your sweet peas next year. This may improve the plants' staying power. A formula I use in preparing the soil is four parts canola seed meal (measured by volume), one part dolomite lime, and one-half part each bone meal and kelp meal. Apply the mixture at the rate of a large handful over every square yard (square metre).

One final factor that I feel helps to boost longevity in sweet peas is an early start, so that the plants become deeply rooted before the arrival of warm weather. I aim for a January or early February indoor seeding, and transplanting in March or early April. Outdoor sowings in March usually work well too.