Sweet Peas 101: Growing the most fragrant flower (without seed trays!)

[@brandimangual6167]

Could you do a video on growing Stock from seed? I very much enjoyed the one on Lisianthus!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Can do!

[@Stoiccappy]

I read Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler and tried her method of plant sweet peas outdoors in the fall (zone 7) to give them a start establishing roots. The small seedlings stayed green through December, were covered with snow, and then were subjected to single digit temps for a few days. So we shall see if they survived and start growing again.

[@HeyMrsDavis]

That’s how I have been doing mine for a few years, and they’ve done great! I have lots of little tiny sprouts right now waiting for it to warm up a bit! We’re north of Atlanta and it gets hot here SO quickly, so this works best for me.

[@lauripedersen3150]

I'm in Iowa and have found Winter Sowing is the best way for me to grow Sweet Peas in my area, especially since I'm just a backyard gardener. It works awesome and they're so fun to grow.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Wonderful! They're just the best scent, aren't they?!

[@victoriafielding2478]

As someone from england, I was fascinated by your comment about stem length, I've never really considered sweet peas a decent cut flower option, probably because they are associated with grandmas always having a few of them on the counter fading in a jam jar. So I was always disappointed that sweet peas had longer stems and therefore looked straggly in the gardens. Its given me a lot to think about.😊

[@HeyMrsDavis]

This is fascinating!I love them in a smaller bud/jar vase arrangement…. People can’t get over the smell! They’re not popular here in the American south (too hot most of the year) so they’re a bit of a novelty!

[@jennwalling8094]

Love this! Impatiently Waiting to start my seeds until I hear your new soil recipe😂!!!!! 🙌🏼

[@dianaweatherford5005]

Me too😂

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Me three !!!

[@rootedvine9870]

Me four!

[@cta75757]

Me five!

[@thisandthatendeavors]

Me six! 😂

[@betsymaltby6788]

I gave up on sweet peas a few years ago, but now ready to try again in my zone 7. This wasn't the first time I heard to start the seeds in a cooler environment. I think I have the perfect spot. Ready to give it another go. Thank you!

[@rsc-h8w]

I tried your seed sprouting technique last year and had fabulous success. Always new things to try- thanks as always for great content. Spring is on its way!!!

[@Blossomandbranch]

That’s fantastic to hear, thanks for sharing! I can't wait!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Good reminder for me to get some sweet peas in the ground. In zone 7b and my direct sown ones did just as well as the ones I sowed in pots. So it's direct sow this year, to save roim for other seeds.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Anytime you can save greenhouse space that’s a win!!

[@HeadstrongGirl]

I have tried both toilet paper rolls and newspaper pots, and newspaper works waaay better. You can control size and shape, and the bottom is both sturdy but easily decomposes once they are potted out. You do have to be careful about watering so they don't collapse and mold, and they do take labour to make. Maybe that would be too much for your volume of things, but for me I just fold my pots while watching gardening videos during winter and we're good to go!

[@theheardhomestead]

Thanks for this video. I have sweet peas on paper towels in the fridge right now and will be starting them in my greenhouse soon. Last year I grew indoors and made that mistake so they stunted and were attacked by aphids. My greenhouse now gets down to about 30. I’m in ga zone 8a❤ Happy Gardening 😊

[@hc3021]

Love this one! I’m saving this to watch again, thank you. ❤

[@MK-ti2oo]

I love sweet peas, they're pretty much a noxious weed and grow wild EVERYWHERE here in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They're absolution beautiful.

[@Blossomandbranch]

You might be thinking of perennial sweet peas, which are invasive and not scented like annual sweet peas!

[@izzyhendrix2651]

I am trying the winter sow method with sweet peas this year, I am in NC zone 8a, fingers crossed!

[@KokoraLife]

Such amazing fragrance! Thanks for sharing your tips!

[@tamararobinson2069]

Lots of food for thought 🧐🤗💜 Thank You!!!!

[@cbak1819]

My floors are 62* in the winter, day time. I grow them on the floor. I use 3 " deep rose pots that I already bought before being introduced to soil blocking. I put a bamboo skewer. Thanks for the great tips snd your wise advice.

[@Simplyfarmhouse7]

Thank you, love your channel! I have a room with grow lights this room is the coolest room, if I closed the vent it gets even cooler, I wonder if this would work to start them. I dont have a greenhouse YET a work in progress.

[@katesclan5043]

From England here. Waiting for 😅your soil blocking recipe before starting my sweet peas 🎉

[@Blossomandbranch]

Oh you lucky duck! Get some wool pellets, coconut coir, worm castings and vermiculite!

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Ugh, I don’t want to have to buy wool pellets for the recipe 😞 Guess I’ll just go use my old recipe.

[@Blossomandbranch]

@@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123 I tested it with and without, I wouldn't include it if it wasn't dramatic! The go-to when in doubt is a good quality potting soil like fox farms' coco loco, sifted to remove large chunks :)

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

@@Blossomandbranch thank you, it’s just more $ than I want to spend.

[@fruitsugarlove]

Thank you for so much helpful information🙏🏼 Can’t wait to be able to start them again, will try your soil block method for them this time around.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I can't wait to see how they do, I wish there was a soil blocker that was a bit deeper so I don't have to stack them but the deep cell trays would work too :)

[@fruitsugarlove]

@@Blossomandbranchyes that would certainly make it easier, but your solution is so doable!!! I’m so excited 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@kathy-xk3gr]

I’m so excited about trying to grow sweet peas.

[@Blossomandbranch]

They really are my FAVORITE scent, and it's amazing how much they perfume the garden!

[@herbhometales8255]

Thanks for all you share!

[@kimandpennyshow374]

Awesome, I am just getting ready to start mine. Loved this timing was perfect. I learned so much thank you for making this.

[@FaeHavenFlowers]

So in zone 6B a cold frame might be a good place to start sweet peas if you don't have a garage or anywhere else to grow them. 🤔 My only question after watching this twice is; When do you plant them out? I am totally going to try the double stacked soil blocks. 🤪 Also your new thumbnail text is AMAZING! oh and Ed hume seeds has a heat tolerant variety I am going to try and grow this year. 🙂

[@moriahlee4055]

Thank you for sharing!

[@jondon9963]

Attempted sweat peas last year and they never really bloomed. Started them indoors, got them transplanted and then they languished.

[@SuzanneCerrone]

Also, do you plant one both sides of the trellis? Spacing? Thank you!

[@suekrebs3497]

Thank you for this thorough and helpful video.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@shellysommerfield4007]

Another option instead of two story soil blocks is soil castles just like you’d make sand castles… just find something you can use that’s taller and skinny… solo cup maybe.

[@debs-more-plants]

Great video!!

[@M4r1ne11a]

Love your double soil block idea. Would you use it (would it work) for the native perennial grasses? Thank you.

[@tashaking8907]

Love your videos!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you!

[@tory464]

💚👍Thank you, great tips!✌️

[@feliciaharris884]

Thanks Bree! Needed this, mine never seem to do well. I now know im starting them too late! Have you ever tried winter sowing these? If so what was your outcome? Wondering if this would work or if it would get too warm in there. Thanks!

[@girlwithgrit7459]

I got some sweet peas from The Farmhouse Flower Farm and am so excited to try them this year! I'm growing lisianthus seeds using your guide and now sweet peas :). I have a perennial clematis that doesn't take up much space on the trellis, so I'm going to load it up with sweet peas 😁. Do you have issues with deer or rabbits eating them?

[@SCCL1000]

Enjoyed this informative and inspiring tutorial. One question: rather than climbing, is it easy and stunning to use the seedlings and allow them to spill over the sides of large pots or hangers? Many thanks.

[@wild_gardener]

They do have sweet pea seeds that are particularly made for this purpose in case you wanted to try those

[@amandaadcock6657]

Thank you! Greenhouse wise, once you start other seeds in Feb and Early march that don’t like it as cold how to you balance that in your greenhouse?

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes :) but I also mentioned “micro zones” in the greenhouse-for example areas closer to the heater will be significantly warmer than on the floor in the back, so understanding those temp differences and where they occur are crucial! ♥️

[@amandaadcock6657]

Got it - thank you!!

[@Mortallifeonearth]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience on sweet peas. I do grow them in toilet paper rolls and if I time it correctly- they are absolutely wonderful. Some of my sweet pea vines got mildew last year- which was disheartening. I had to cut them back severely around mid-July. We had a rainy summer last year. Do you have any suggestions for preventing that? I’m in Zone 6, Canada. Thank you!

[@Mabelscorner]

Clever!

[@phoebehope6549]

It's so interesting to hear about your aphids - I'm in the north of England, where it's 20c/25c most of the summer, and only at the end of the summer when it got very hot and they wanted to go to seed did I get aphids on them. All through the spring/early summer they were totally pest free. I wonder if there's something about them being stressed that attracts aphids? Or maybe I've just been lucky so far x x x

[@jessiesheldon-huffey1824]

I am in North Idaho, Zone 4, sometimes zone 5. We dont have high summer temps till July ussually and I am growing these for my daughters wedding at end of June. Should I start outside mid April after I germinate them indoors?

[@SuzanneCerrone]

Thank you! Can you tell me if smaller sweet peas actually ever germinate? I have a couple of varieties that have larger seeds and smaller ones. The larger ones germinated in 3-5 days but nothing on the smaller ones. Just wondering how long to wait before calling it.

[@laurenwhite4759]

You’re inspiring me!!! Do you think I could plant these on the same trellis as my morning glories? I have one side empty bc it gets less light on one side

[@laurenwhite4759]

I’m in zone 7b so it gets hot from June-September so idk if it’s too hot here

[@Blossomandbranch]

I think they would get overtaken pretty quickly by morning glories! Aside from that you should be able to grow them even though you're in a warm zone, just start asap!

[@laurenwhite4759]

@ thank you!!

[@kimberlybush9160]

Where do you get your seeds for the fragrant sweet peas ?

[@Heggerud_gard]

Will the sweetpeaplants grow New wines if You cut it? I am in a Cool sone we grow sweetpeas until september / oktober

[@timl.b.2095]

Oh! I've wanted to have those fragrant sweet peas for years. By and by I forgot all about them. I'm gonna try them!

[@Blossomandbranch]

They’re so worth it!! You won’t regret it!

[@aimeeelliott7608]

I may have missed it but, I’m assuming that the first tiny sprout is root? And you plant it pointed down? Just thought it is easier to know before I start. I’ve heard how assuming can bite you in the buns.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes, it’s a root. :) Just put it in the hole and it’ll find its way down! ♥️

[@aimeeelliott7608]

@ thank you. Do you sell to the public?

[@aimeeelliott7608]

Oops. Found my own answer.

[@DarkLord-jm8tw]

I think you can do it like kids in a sandbox. Pour the earth into a deep mold, put the substrate on top, turn it over and knock. remove the mold, and we'll have turrets. Like kids do in the sandbox. This may turn out to be a slow process and not suitable for mass cultivation. But it's a good start.🤔

[@GrettaVanMaanen-pj8ql]

😊

[@JoanneJohnson-m9n]

I have very limited seed starting space. I was wondering if you have ever sown sweet peas in seed snails.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I wouldn't because they don't like root disturbance and that method results in a lot!

[@tashaking8907]

I love sweet peas but during their bloom time I have allergies pretty bad so have to enjoy them outside.

[@Grow-all-year]

According to johnnys website, sweet peas are poisonous? Does this affect where u plant or what u plant next to?

[@Blossomandbranch]

Nope, as I mentioned in the beginning, just don't eat them. :)

[@glamrhinestones9283]

I am in Phoenix,9b can I start them now? 100’s by May

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes start asap!

[@centralTexasBrownThumb]

like how you are not using plastic bag for pre-sprouting

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks! I find this works better too when checking on them!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

Guess I’m compositing my toilet paper rolls I’ve been saving 😂

[@Blossomandbranch]

You might still like it, give a couple a shot! There are some folks who like it!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

@@Blossomandbranch good thinking. Who knows right?

[@ct2136]

Was wondering why my sweet peas were so unhappy, it's because the air is bone dry and I'm not watering enough

[@FebbieG]

I have sweet peas outside right now, as I'm in a warmer zone than you.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Lucky!

[@movingforward2570]

Check your area for invasiveness

[@Blossomandbranch]

Annual sweet peas aren't invasive, you may be thinking of the perennial sweet pea which is a different plant. :)

[@christinemorgan2199]

Iv heard Sweet Peas are TOXIC TO DOGS/ANIMALS is this true??? That’s the only thing I’m concerned about if my dog or cats get into it.

[@Blossomandbranch]

They are. That being said I have chickens, sheep, dogs and cats and none have ever touched our sweet peas :) but you know your animals best. If they eat your plants then don’t risk it (though I don’t know how you garden at all in that case, must be hard)!