While the most common variety of sweet pea is an annual (Lathyrus odoratus), they also come in perennial varieties (Lathyrus latifolius).
Is there a perennial sweet pea?
The perennial sweet pea blooms from June through late September producing great masses of scentless blossoms. Its flowers are impressively showy in shades of white, pinkish purple and rose. Even though the blossoms are not fragrant, they are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators.
Are sweet peas perennial UK?
Everybody loves sweet peas, but new plants have to be raised every year from seed. These are the colourful cousins, perennials that grow happily through trellis or scramble through shrubs, and flower all summer long – every summer.
How do you start perennial sweet peas?
Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart in full sun as soon as ground can be worked in early spring. In mild winter areas, where the ground doesn’t freeze, plant in fall; seeds will germinate and form strong root systems, then overwinter to bloom strongly in spring.
Are perennial sweet peas invasive?
Annual or Perennial
In many areas of North America, the perennial sweet pea (L. latifolius) is an invasive problem, clogging open fields and roadsides. It looks pretty until you realize it’s crowding out other plants and acting like a thug.
Do sweet peas reseed themselves?
Sweet peas are annual plants and will readily self-sow. The flowers go to seed if left uncut and form pods that vaguely resemble the pods of edible peas.
Will my sweet peas grow again next year?
If you plan to grow sweet peas in the same garden spot again next year, you don’t have to go to the trouble of saving seeds. As the seed pods dry, they pop open and drop their seeds to the ground. Next year’s flowers will grow from these seeds.
Should I cut back perennial sweet peas?
The everlasting pea is vigorous and grows easily. It will flower all summer long, but to get it to do this dead heading is essential. Remove all spent flowers and seed head so that the shrub keeps producing more flowers. It is deciduous and should be cut back to ground level in the autumn.
What to do with sweet peas after flowering?
Cut down your sweet peas when they finish flowering, but leave the roots in the ground as they have little nodules on them which will add nitrogen to your soil.
What is the lifespan of a pea plant?
Peas are annual plants, with a life cycle of one year.
Do peas come back every year?
Sweet peas grow as annuals throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. They are best started in the cooler months, as soon as the ground can be worked, as the plants prefer cool ground in which to germinate.
How tall do perennial sweet peas grow?
approximately 8 feet
Perennial. Flower June to September. Grow to approximately 8 feet (2.4 metres) tall (require support). Thrive in full sun and a rich soil.
How do I save peas to plant next year?
Save peas and beans by allowing the pods to ripen on the plants until they are dry and starting to turn brown, with the seeds rattling inside. This may be as long as a month after you would normally harvest the peas or beans to eat. Strip the pods from the plants and spread them out to dry indoors.
Should I remove sweet pea pods?
Once your sweet pea plants are in full flower make sure that you dead-head them and remove seed pods as soon as possible to encourage more blooms to be produced.
Why are there pea pods on my sweet peas?
It means don’t pick the flowers. They will die off and pods will appear where the flower was. You may want to avoid eating sweet peas. Sweet peas are not the same species of plant as edible peas.
Can sweet peas survive winter?
Sweet peas are a hardy annual, which means they will tolerate cold, even a light frost below if freezing. They are tougher than they look and will take a regular frost down to around -4.
What to plant After sweet peas?
The most popular vegetable to plant after peas is cucumbers, which often can be trained up the same trellis used by the peas. Indeed, members of the squash family quickly make themselves at home in pea soil, and the same is true of root crops like carrots and parsnips.
How do you overwinter sweet peas?
Autumn-sown sweet peas should be kept in their cold frame or greenhouse to overwinter. While you don’t want to mollycoddle seedlings too much (cool temperatures will keep plants stocky and sturdy) they won’t appreciate being repeatedly frozen, so add extra protection in frosty weather.
How do you prune sweet peas for the winter?
Cut perennial Lathyrus back to ground level in autumn or, preferably, leave the cutting back until February so the dead stems provide cover for wildlife in winter. Simply pull out and compost annual sweet peas once flowering has finished at the end of summer. In hot, dry seasons this might be a bit sooner.
Why are my everlasting sweet peas not flowering?
If your plants aren’t flowering, it could be that they are not getting enough light (they need a minimum of 8 to 10 hours a day, but preferably nearer to 16 hours).
Can you eat the peas from a sweet pea plant?
Since they are members of the legume family, people often wonder, can you eat sweet peas? No! All sweet peas plants are toxic.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.