Growing from seeds of annual sweet peas, planting them and caring for them
Sweet pea is a plant used for landscaping a plot, balcony, gazebo, terrace. Breeders bred many varieties of culture with inflorescences of different colors. During the budding period, a delicate aroma emanates from the bushes. Plants are unpretentious in care, they are easy to propagate. Read on for more information on growing annual sweet peas from seed.
Description and characteristics of the plant
The second name of the culture is the fragrant rank. Vine shoots, depending on the variety, have a length of 0.2 to 3.5 meters. The root system goes deep into the ground by 1.5 meters. Along the entire length of the shoots there are small leaves, as well as antennae, with which the vine clings to the support. Up to 7 delicate buds are formed on the racemose inflorescence of the sweet pea. The flower is associated with a butterfly with rainbow wings.Bud petals can be colored white, pink, blue, purple, red. During flowering, the smell of honey emanates from the bushes.
The buds begin to bloom in July. Flowering lasts until frost. Mid-latitude perennial peas are grown as an annual plant. When the buds begin to dry out, a seed box is formed. They can be harvested, dried, planted next year on the site.
Additional information. The seeds of the culture are poisonous, so they should be hidden from children.
Known varieties
Of the many varieties of sweet peas, the following groups are the best known:
Duplex
The plant is characterized by a vigorous stem about 1 meter long. Inflorescences consist of 4-5 flowers. The most famous representative of the group is Cream Peas. As the name suggests, its inflorescences are cream-colored.
Galaxy
The shoots of representatives of this group can reach a length of 2 meters. Galactic peas bloom late. Plants are used for landscaping and for cutting. The best known varieties: Neptune, Milky Way.
Jewel
Sweet pea bushes in this group reach a height of 45 centimeters. Flowers with wavy petals grow up to 4 centimeters. The inflorescences are formed from 4-5 buds. On the site are grown without support.
spencer
Vigorous plants reach a height of 2 meters. Racemes are formed on the shoots. The flowers are single or double. Famous varieties: Jumbo, Charlotte, Mahogany, Spencer Monty, Cream Jigantic.
Earl Spencer
This is a group of early pea varieties. Shoots reach a length of 120-150 centimeters.The inflorescences consist of 3-4 buds with wavy petals. Plants are used for landscaping and for cutting.
Coutbethrson-Floribunda
The group includes tall plants. Their shoots reach a height of 2 meters. Inflorescences 40 centimeters long are formed from 5-6 buds with corrugated petals. Best varieties: David, Kennet, White Pearl.
Royal family
Varieties of this group tolerate heat well. Buds with crimped petals are available in a variety of colors. A delicate aroma emanates from the bushes during flowering. Use the crop for landscaping and for cutting.
Multiflora Gigantea
The shoots of this group of early-flowering varieties reach a length of 2.5 meters. The diameter of the flowers is about 5 centimeters. 5-12 buds with wavy petals form on the inflorescence. Sweet peas can be used in a bouquet, planted near supports.
Tousled
The plants of this group are powerful and tall. Shoots can reach a length of 1.5 meters. The inflorescence consists of 6-10 flowers. Popular varieties: Grace, Ramona. Strong flower stems can be used in a bouquet.
Intergene
This group includes undersized pea varieties. The height of the bushes does not exceed 65 centimeters. The flowers are single, about 3 centimeters in diameter. Plants can be kept without supports. The best known variety is the Geniana.
Lel
The length of the shoots varies between 65 and 100 centimeters. The inflorescences consist of 7-12 flowers with wavy petals. The diameter of the buds can reach 4.5 centimeters. Popular varieties: Luciena, Lisette.
How to grow well
Before you start propagating a crop, you need to check the viability of the seeds. To do this, they are placed in a glass of salted water.Floating planting material is not used.
Selection and sowing of seeds
The culture is sown in early March for seedlings or in May in the open ground. Another option is in the fall, when the persistent cold sets in. If the procedure is carried out earlier, the planting material may rise prematurely and freeze. Dry sweet pea seeds tolerate winter frosts well.
How to choose the right planting material
Seeds of your favorite pea varieties are purchased from a florist. You should pay attention to the date on the package with the expiration dates of planting material. Expired seeds should not be purchased. High-quality material should be dry, without dents and rotten fragments.
Preparation of containers and soil
For planting peas choose a box or individual containers. Drainage holes should be made in the bottom of the container. A substrate consisting of humus, peat, sand is poured into the containers.
Direct sowing
Planting peas is carried out as follows:
- for a day, the seeds are placed in a glass of warm water;
- the container is filled with the prepared substrate;
- seeds are planted at a depth of 1-2 centimeters;
- watered;
- cover the container with glass or film.
In a mini-greenhouse, the seeds hatch quickly.
Seedling care
The success of their development and flowering depends on the correct care of young shrubs.
Temperature regime
Containers with cultures are kept at a temperature of 20-22 ° C. When the sprouts hatch, it is reduced to 16-17 ° C. At the same time, the coating material is removed.
Lighting
The box is exposed to a south-facing window. If there is not enough light, you need to install an additional source.A good option would be a phytolamp, which is turned on for 2-3 hours a day.
watering mode
The land under the bushes is irrigated as needed. The soil should be moist, but not wet. Otherwise, pathogenic microorganisms may form. Water is used lukewarm, settled.
Picking
Sweet pea seedlings have a fragile root system and can be damaged during transplanting. Therefore, it is better to plant the seeds immediately in individual containers. The best option is to sow in peat pots.
top dresser
Seedlings grow rapidly, consuming soil nutrients. Top dressing is used to replenish them. For this, 2 grams of Kemira are diluted in 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is poured onto the ground around the bushes.
Landing in the ground
Plants begin to harden off 1.5-2 weeks before planting. To do this, pots with bushes are taken out to the fresh air every day. The initial residence time of a culture on the street is 10-15 minutes. It is gradually increased significantly. Sweet peas are usually planted in the ground in May, after the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.
To note! 2-3 pea bushes are planted in the hole. The distance between the pits is 20-25 centimeters.
Rules and features of care
Care consists in watering, feeding, loosening the soil. To build up a large number of small roots, hilling is carried out.
watering mode
The soil is irrigated at least 1 time per week, consuming 3-3.5 liters per square meter. If it is hot and dry for a long time, the number of waterings is increased. With a lack of moisture, the buds will quickly fall off.
Weeding and loosening the soil
The roots and stems of peas are delicate, fragile, so it is better to remove varietal grass by hand. It is necessary to loosen the soil around the bushes carefully, without deepening the tool. The procedure prevents the appearance of a crust on the surface of the soil, promotes root respiration.
Support and garter
For tall varieties of sweet peas, a support is installed. The culture will skirt it with the help of antennae. By tying the shoots, the florist will give them the right direction.
Hilling
The stronger the root system, the stronger the plant. To build adventitious roots, the bushes are planted at a height of 5-7 centimeters. Additionally, the area around the plants can be mulched.
top dresser
In the spring, urea and nitrophosphate are used. Nutrients provide the impetus for the growth of a powerful green mass. Then, for the abundant formation of buds, complex mineral fertilizer is used for flowering plants.
Prevention of diseases and pests
In order for plants to have good immunity, proper precautions must be taken. The ground under the bushes should not be wet all the time. Weeds that can carry diseases and pests should be removed. When adversity appears, special preparations are used according to the instructions.
Seed collection
After flowering, pods form on the shoots. They are considered ripe when they are light brown in color. The pods are picked, the seeds are removed. They are well dried, stored in paper bags.
Additional tips and tricks
Experienced growers give the following tips and tricks for growing sweet peas:
- For seedlings, it is best to plant seeds in peat pots.
- In warm regions, the culture should be immediately planted in open ground.
- The seeds are soaked in warm water a day before planting, then they hatch faster.
- Wilted buds are removed. The procedure will promote the formation of new inflorescences.
- Seeds can be planted not only in the open ground, but also in a pot. Then the culture will serve as a decoration for a balcony or loggia.
Growing sweet peas is a simple process. With the right agrotechnical measures, the culture will bloom for a long time on the site or on the balcony.