My Mother (RIP) was the Seattle Queen of the Sweet Peas! Here is what I learned from her: The last chores my Dad (RIP) did in late Autumn was to pack up the Dahlia and Begonia tubers and dig Mama’s Sweet Pea trench. Deep. Almost to China. He filled it with his compost from way out back where he used to tease me I should go to practice my violin. That there was gold, he used to tell us kids. He topped it with fresh garden loam and disassembled her trellis. Old Man Winter would come with his rain and snow, turning the gardens into the perfect nursery for the Spring planting. Mama planted her Sweet Pea seeds on Washington’s Birthday. Every year. We always had cherry pie for dessert in honor of George’s confession that he chopped down his Dad’s favorite cherry tree “with my little axe. I cannot tell a lie;” and then we watched Mama plant her seeds. She had dropped each seed in ice cube tray compartments. She planted the ice cubes side-by-side in the trench Daddy had reopened to give the seeds perfect spacing. Then she tenderly covered them up. I remember she always got new gardening gloves for Christmas from Santa and this was their maiden voyage in the garden. Dad would soon reinstall her twenty feet of trellis behind them. Every morning she would rush out….rain or snow…in her yellow robe with her coffee cup to pace around the garden beds nearest the house and see what should be done next. Then she’d hurry back in and shake off the raindrops just like her poodles did. She always said. “Wakey, wakey, rise and shine” while she scrapped her slippers on the doormat. The begonia tubers in peat-moss-filled cardboard milk cartons lined every window sill in the house. Damp peat moss, percolated coffee, Cecil Solly on the AM radio, and Rice Krispies with whole cream were the smells, sounds, and taste of my grade school mornings. By the time school let out for the Summer, there was twenty feet of huge, healthy, fragrant Sweet Peas on the trellis. Now she was out there with her morning coffee cutting two bouquet fistfuls of those precious flowers every single day. Roses floated in bowls around the house. It was an ever changing garden inside and out. Saturday was absolutely dedicated to the yards and garden unless of a true emergency. I’ve come to realize this was their ‘weekly date.’ They both were their happiest in the garden together. Several times a week she took Sweet Peas to the church office lady and a nearby nursing home and to my Grandparents. I never met anybody who didn’t love Sweet Peas. I know she fed them heavily and pinched and cut them regularly. Her ice cube trick was pure genius except for that one year I came home from school and made a pitcher of Kool-Aid. 😂😂 You KNOW she fished all those seeds out and refroze them. She laughed until she had tears and I felt awful. I still look suspiciously at ice cubes before I dump out a tray. I believe it is ALL those things that made her famous for her Sweet Peas. Especially the traditions and the love. I have the recipe so I believe I should be able to replicate it…. if I could ever remember when it’s George Washington’s Birthday!! They combined it now with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and call it ‘Presidents Day!’ One of these years…… ”Siri! Set a timer for Washington’s Birthday 2024, please.”
Que relato más hermoso!!!...pude ver a tus papis tal cual los describias...hasta morí de risas al verla sacando las semillas de la jarra...😂😂😂...Seguí honrandolos y plantando aquello que los hacía felices...seguramente estarán a tu lado en la labor...❤❤❤
I happen to be trying to grow sweet peas for the third time myself. I just planted them 3 weeks ago when I realized -- like you! -- that sweet peas don't like heat. I planted MANY seeds in empty large pots and I guess I'd better start transplanting them into the ground -- some of the seedlings are now 9 or 10 inches tall, and other varieties are shorter, but still seem to be coming up. I grew up in Phoenix, where there were Japanese flower gardens, and in March we could buy huge fistfuls of the most gorgeous, fragrant sweet peas, for pennies. But NOW just try to find them! ......and I would love to revel in their marvellous fragrance once again -- it's been such a long time. I hope I have the luck you've had, and I THINK I'd figured out what I was doing wrong -- just like you did. I do love the idea of your "tunnel trellis" and hope I can set up a similar arrangement. Thank you for your informative (and reassuring) video!
Sweet peas are one of my favourites. I even took a sweet pea course from a gal who grows beautiful sweet peas. We still have snow so have to wait a little bit longer.
Hi there, my Dad always planted sweet pea seeds on St Patrick's Day. I am in Australia and I sow direct in autumn so that they bloom early spring. It gets way too hot in summer here, but they seem to love our mild winters. We have a touch of frost in winter. Can't wait until spring!!
Hello, love your channel and am appreciative of your videos. I am a mature row crop and livestock farmer in northcentral Indiana. My granddaughter, age 21, is to be my flower farmer partner. You inspire a new demographic of future farmers. I never thought that this would be possible. Thank you.
So excited that you and your granddaughter are tackling this adventure of growing flowers together! Wishing you both the best of luck.. may the upcoming season be abundantly beautiful for you!
Sweet peas are my favourite flower because of their smell. Shorter vase life but the best 5 days of fragrance! I have grown a few years, but you have inspired me to grow this year again. Thanks for sharing.
Just found your channel and of course, subscribed. So much great information especially this one. This year is the first time I am starting my sweet peas. They're about two inches tall so I think it's time to plant them in a bigger container. This was very helpful. Thank you!
Thank you. I am planting some sweet peas in my garden this year. I have grown the eating types of peas and they do really well here in zone 4. So I am hoping to enjoy those lovely flowers for the first time.
Great information. Mine are ready to go outside. I made a lot of these same mistakes in the past. The best part about them is the seed is large it makes planting so easy.
Thanks! Perfect timing for me too! I was at Walmart today and on a whim bought a pack of sweet peas. Came home and put them in soak. I never grew them before or even saw any in real life that I can remember! But I admit the whim was totally utube influenced because I see so many talking about them. I am wondering if I could just directly put them in the ground because we are right in that temperature bracket right now?
@@marthayoder1188 Love that you're giving them a try! To answer your question, it's always a risk to direct sow sweet peas- some gardeners do it and they grow just fine but others I know say that the seeds get eaten by birds or other pests. I'd say give it a try but maybe direct seed a little more heavily. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the video! I've been growing mine in those red cups and after pinching they're 3-4 inches tall. I think I can plant them outdoors tomorrow (Atlanta 7b)!! I wouldn't have known it was time without your info 😊!
I tried last yr and failed. Trying again this yr. Have them soaking now and will plant them out as soon as we warm up a bit. zone 7 here so it gets pretty warm quickly so I want to enjoy them while its cool. Love your video! Keep up the good work!!
I live in 5b in Colorado. Many years ago I planted a container with sweet peas in my brick court yard. Well some seeds must have fallen in the cracks because I now get sweet peas growing in their own every year and have spread to both sides of the brick wall. I love them but unfortunately whatever kind I originally planted don’t smell. We can’t get rid of them. They are now like a weed, lol!
Some sweet pea varieties (especially "Spencer" varieties) are a little more heat tolerant so you may still be able to enjoy blooms this season ;) See how they do.. they may just surprise you!
Do you get a lot of slugs/snails? I heard that most plants in the bean and pea families get overrun with them, possibly from the nitrogen content in the plants
I have not personally had this problem. If slugs are a problem for you, you may want to try Sluggo- it's a granular slug deterrent that you scatter around your plants :)
Great timing. I just sowed mine 2 days ago, zone 4b, but have them in my warm grow room. I'll move them outside, as we are finally getting into the 50s. Is it ok during germination to go into the 40s at night or should I bring them in?
Either way will work! I often keep mine inside so that they'll germinate faster- but at the first sign of growth, I move them somewhere cooler so they don't become leggy! You got this!💛💛
It’s definitely worth a try to direct seed them! Some gardeners can have problems with birds/bugs eating the seeds they direct sow so you may have to watch out for pests- but I always just sow more than I intend to grow and somehow it always seems like it works out 💛✨ Good luck!
Great video!...I just bought seeds yesterday in hopes to plant soon indoors but it seems I should have done this months ago, I'm in zone 5b as well...is it really too late, or should I still try at this point?
My motto is to always go for it! I like to think that in the grand scheme of things- a packet of seeds isn’t that expensive. perhaps the flowers may not perform like you would like but that doesn’t mean you won’t get enjoyable blooms from them! If anything you’ll learn how sweet peas perform for you in the warmer months and you can take that information and adjust next year if necessary 💛 There’s no harm in trying✨💛
So, I went for it and started inside, they are now 4-5 inches tall!! I think it is safe to plant outdoors now! Thanks so much!! By the way, this is K8mberly from Farmhouse flowers, I met you a couple of weeks ago and bought tulips from you 😊😊
@@madamedennis6726 I'm so excited for you, Kimberly! Great work!! You're in for a treat once they start blooming! And yes, it was so fun to get to chat with you a few weeks back! I truly hope you enjoyed your tulips; I know I enjoyed getting to talk flowers with you 💛💛💛💛
Aw! Just seeing this, thank you... and...the sweet peas are actually just blooming! I saw one today and couldn't wait to tell you. So thrilled!! Keep up the great work young lady, your videos are so, so helpful!! ❤
Sweet peas take anywhere between 1-3 weeks to germinate + start growth (depending on your temps)... You can germinate your seeds in a warmer environment to speed up the process but then put them back out in your garage so they can put on top growth in a cool environment.
Thank you. Another video on Sweet Pea claimed that if you soak them overnight they will germinate within3 days, so I thought I messed up. I feel better thanks. I put them in my garage in zone 6. Garage temp is around 50 degrees even though its colder outside. Thank you!@@twosistersflowerfarm
@@dorothyv2863 Yes, they should germinate just fine. It's generally recommended to germinate sweet pea seed at 55-65 degrees, but 50 should work too (just may take a little longer). Soaking sweet pea seeds is thought to soften the tough outer skin of sweet pea so that the seed can germinate more easily- but more and more experts are warning against the soaking method, saying that it actually reduces germination.
So no heat mat then? No humidity dome either? First time grower! My other seeds will be inside at probably 68-70 degrees but should I put my sweet peas in thr garage as soon as they're planted, or wait for germination?
My Mother (RIP) was the Seattle Queen of the Sweet Peas! Here is what I learned from her:
The last chores my Dad (RIP) did in late Autumn was to pack up the Dahlia and Begonia tubers and dig Mama’s Sweet Pea trench. Deep. Almost to China. He filled it with his compost from way out back where he used to tease me I should go to practice my violin. That there was gold, he used to tell us kids. He topped it with fresh garden loam and disassembled her trellis.
Old Man Winter would come with his rain and snow, turning the gardens into the perfect nursery for the Spring planting. Mama planted her Sweet Pea seeds on Washington’s Birthday. Every year.
We always had cherry pie for dessert in honor of George’s confession that he chopped down his Dad’s favorite cherry tree “with my little axe. I cannot tell a lie;” and then we watched Mama plant her seeds. She had dropped each seed in ice cube tray compartments. She planted the ice cubes side-by-side in the trench Daddy had reopened to give the seeds perfect spacing. Then she tenderly covered them up. I remember she always got new gardening gloves for Christmas from Santa and this was their maiden voyage in the garden. Dad would soon reinstall her twenty feet of trellis behind them.
Every morning she would rush out….rain or snow…in her yellow robe with her coffee cup to pace around the garden beds nearest the house and see what should be done next. Then she’d hurry back in and shake off the raindrops just like her poodles did. She always said. “Wakey, wakey, rise and shine” while she scrapped her slippers on the doormat. The begonia tubers in peat-moss-filled cardboard milk cartons lined every window sill in the house. Damp peat moss, percolated coffee, Cecil Solly on the AM radio, and Rice Krispies with whole cream were the smells, sounds, and taste of my grade school mornings.
By the time school let out for the Summer, there was twenty feet of huge, healthy, fragrant Sweet Peas on the trellis. Now she was out there with her morning coffee cutting two bouquet fistfuls of those precious flowers every single day. Roses floated in bowls around the house. It was an ever changing garden inside and out. Saturday was absolutely dedicated to the yards and garden unless of a true emergency. I’ve come to realize this was their ‘weekly date.’ They both were their happiest in the garden together. Several times a week she took Sweet Peas to the church office lady and a nearby nursing home and to my Grandparents. I never met anybody who didn’t love Sweet Peas. I know she fed them heavily and pinched and cut them regularly.
Her ice cube trick was pure genius except for that one year I came home from school and made a pitcher of Kool-Aid. 😂😂 You KNOW she fished all those seeds out and refroze them. She laughed until she had tears and I felt awful. I still look suspiciously at ice cubes before I dump out a tray.
I believe it is ALL those things that made her famous for her Sweet Peas. Especially the traditions and the love. I have the recipe so I believe I should be able to replicate it…. if I could ever remember when it’s George Washington’s Birthday!! They combined it now with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and call it ‘Presidents Day!’
One of these years……
”Siri! Set a timer for Washington’s Birthday 2024, please.”
What a lovely memory! Thanks for sharing. I could feel the love :)
Que relato más hermoso!!!...pude ver a tus papis tal cual los describias...hasta morí de risas al verla sacando las semillas de la jarra...😂😂😂...Seguí honrandolos y plantando aquello que los hacía felices...seguramente estarán a tu lado en la labor...❤❤❤
What a sweet memory to treasure ! Thanks for sharing!💘
Oh my stars. What a tremendously beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing.😊 I do his picture in the whole thing as you told it so awesome!
Sorry, I too was picturing everything as you told his story
My grandfather grew sweet pea seed for Suttons in England. You MUST deadhead, as soon as the flowers fade. Otherwise the season ends.
Thanks for sharing!
My sprouts are around 4 to 5 in I better put them in the ground before it gets hot…. Thanks for a great info will keep u posted 😊
Best of luck! You got this ✨👏
I adore the smell of sweet peas and lily of the valley, lilac and roses. Another great video, thank you
Remember you are as beautiful as the flowers 🔥 Thanks for the tips 🖖🏻
I happen to be trying to grow sweet peas for the third time myself. I just planted them 3 weeks ago when I realized -- like you! -- that sweet peas don't like heat. I planted MANY seeds in empty large pots and I guess I'd better start transplanting them into the ground -- some of the seedlings are now 9 or 10 inches tall, and other varieties are shorter, but still seem to be coming up. I grew up in Phoenix, where there were Japanese flower gardens, and in March we could buy huge fistfuls of the most gorgeous, fragrant sweet peas, for pennies. But NOW just try to find them! ......and I would love to revel in their marvellous fragrance once again -- it's been such a long time. I hope I have the luck you've had, and I THINK I'd figured out what I was doing wrong -- just like you did. I do love the idea of your "tunnel trellis" and hope I can set up a similar arrangement. Thank you for your informative (and reassuring) video!
Sweet peas are one of my favourites. I even took a sweet pea course from a gal who grows beautiful sweet peas.
We still have snow so have to wait a little bit longer.
That is so cool! Always love a good chance to learn from others when they offer courses + such :)
Hi there, my Dad always planted sweet pea seeds on St Patrick's Day. I am in Australia and I sow direct in autumn so that they bloom early spring. It gets way too hot in summer here, but they seem to love our mild winters. We have a touch of frost in winter.
Can't wait until spring!!
I LOVE that your dad made a tradition out of it! I hope you enjoy your blooms this year... sweet peas are such a treasure!
I planted sweet peas in February, I am in zone 9B. I usually have a short window to enjoy them. I should get blooms any day!
Ah that is so exciting! ✨🙌
Hello, love your channel and am appreciative of your videos. I am a mature row crop and livestock farmer in northcentral Indiana. My granddaughter, age 21, is to be my flower farmer partner. You inspire a new demographic of future farmers. I never thought that this would be possible. Thank you.
So excited that you and your granddaughter are tackling this adventure of growing flowers together! Wishing you both the best of luck.. may the upcoming season be abundantly beautiful for you!
Sweet peas are my favourite flower because of their smell. Shorter vase life but the best 5 days of fragrance! I have grown a few years, but you have inspired me to grow this year again. Thanks for sharing.
Yes 🙌 that smell can’t be beat! ✨💛
Just found your channel and of course, subscribed. So much great information especially this one. This year is the first time I am starting my sweet peas. They're about two inches tall so I think it's time to plant them in a bigger container. This was very helpful. Thank you!
Glad you’re here! And so excited for you to give these a shot! Best of luck!
Thank you. I am planting some sweet peas in my garden this year. I have grown the eating types of peas and they do really well here in zone 4. So I am hoping to enjoy those lovely flowers for the first time.
I bet you'll really enjoy them! Fingers crossed they turn out for you!
Great information. Mine are ready to go outside. I made a lot of these same mistakes in the past. The best part about them is the seed is large it makes planting so easy.
I agree.. the seed size is so nice! Wish all seeds were like that 😉💛
Thanks!!! Perfect timing! I'm soaking my seeds right now! Thanks again!❤
That is perfect timing! ;) Love this! And best of luck!
Thanks! Perfect timing for me too! I was at Walmart today and on a whim bought a pack of sweet peas. Came home and put them in soak. I never grew them before or even saw any in real life that I can remember! But I admit the whim was totally utube influenced because I see so many talking about them. I am wondering if I could just directly put them in the ground because we are right in that temperature bracket right now?
@@marthayoder1188 Love that you're giving them a try! To answer your question, it's always a risk to direct sow sweet peas- some gardeners do it and they grow just fine but others I know say that the seeds get eaten by birds or other pests. I'd say give it a try but maybe direct seed a little more heavily. Hope this helps!
@@twosistersflowerfarm Thanks...that is helpful...I might put a wire cloche over them when I plant.🤞
Thanks for the video! I've been growing mine in those red cups and after pinching they're 3-4 inches tall. I think I can plant them outdoors tomorrow (Atlanta 7b)!! I wouldn't have known it was time without your info 😊!
Yay! I'm so excited for you and wishing you all the luck with your sweet peas this year!
I tried last yr and failed. Trying again this yr. Have them soaking now and will plant them out as soon as we warm up a bit. zone 7 here so it gets pretty warm quickly so I want to enjoy them while its cool. Love your video! Keep up the good work!!
Good luck!
I live in 5b in Colorado. Many years ago I planted a container with sweet peas in my brick court yard. Well some seeds must have fallen in the cracks because I now get sweet peas growing in their own every year and have spread to both sides of the brick wall. I love them but unfortunately whatever kind I originally planted don’t smell.
We can’t get rid of them. They are now like a weed, lol!
Oh man.. that is unfortunate that they don’t have that nostalgic sweet pea fragrance but I’m all for that low-maintenance gardening 😉 lol
I've never tried sweet peas, but they sound wonderful. May need to add them this year
They are so fun to grow!
Zone 6b and growing them for the 1st time. I winter sowed them and just transplanted them to the garden. Wish me luck!
You got this! 👏 I anticipate some very beautiful sweet pea blooms in your future! 💛✨
Whoops. This is my first year attempting sweet peas and I just now put them out. Well, I will know for next year. Thanks for the great video!
Some sweet pea varieties (especially "Spencer" varieties) are a little more heat tolerant so you may still be able to enjoy blooms this season ;) See how they do.. they may just surprise you!
I sowed mines into the ground,they have germinated and are growing but it gets hot and humid in Texas,i hope they survive the Texas heat...
At what stage of flower opening do you cut/harvest? Do you add anything to the water to help the flowers last longer?
Peter
Do you get a lot of slugs/snails? I heard that most plants in the bean and pea families get overrun with them, possibly from the nitrogen content in the plants
I have not personally had this problem. If slugs are a problem for you, you may want to try Sluggo- it's a granular slug deterrent that you scatter around your plants :)
Great timing. I just sowed mine 2 days ago, zone 4b, but have them in my warm grow room. I'll move them outside, as we are finally getting into the 50s. Is it ok during germination to go into the 40s at night or should I bring them in?
Either way will work! I often keep mine inside so that they'll germinate faster- but at the first sign of growth, I move them somewhere cooler so they don't become leggy! You got this!💛💛
Thanks for the information. Since I didn’t start mine indoors, can I direct seed them now? I live in 5b and our temps are in the 60’s right now.😊
It’s definitely worth a try to direct seed them! Some gardeners can have problems with birds/bugs eating the seeds they direct sow so you may have to watch out for pests- but I always just sow more than I intend to grow and somehow it always seems like it works out 💛✨ Good luck!
Great video!...I just bought seeds yesterday in hopes to plant soon indoors but it seems I should have done this months ago, I'm in zone 5b as well...is it really too late, or should I still try at this point?
My motto is to always go for it! I like to think that in the grand scheme of things- a packet of seeds isn’t that expensive. perhaps the flowers may not perform like you would like but that doesn’t mean you won’t get enjoyable blooms from them! If anything you’ll learn how sweet peas perform for you in the warmer months and you can take that information and adjust next year if necessary 💛 There’s no harm in trying✨💛
So, I went for it and started inside, they are now 4-5 inches tall!! I think it is safe to plant outdoors now! Thanks so much!! By the way, this is K8mberly from Farmhouse flowers, I met you a couple of weeks ago and bought tulips from you 😊😊
@@madamedennis6726 I'm so excited for you, Kimberly! Great work!! You're in for a treat once they start blooming! And yes, it was so fun to get to chat with you a few weeks back! I truly hope you enjoyed your tulips; I know I enjoyed getting to talk flowers with you 💛💛💛💛
Aw! Just seeing this, thank you... and...the sweet peas are actually just blooming! I saw one today and couldn't wait to tell you. So thrilled!!
Keep up the great work young lady, your videos are so, so helpful!! ❤
Could I put them in the fridge after they’ve germinated? 🤔 Or they need light?
It never hurts to experiment but they likely would respond much better with light 💛✨
I’m so jealous!
✨💛
First year with sweet peas. It’s been pretty easy but my plants are 18-24” tall. Healthy. But no blooms! What have I done wrong? 8A
what size cow panel??
thanks!!!
I used two panels and if I remember correctly they were each 4' by 16'💛
Thank you for sharing. I admit I'm having a hard time growing them. Maybe it's better to put them in the shady place.
How deep are the boxes you planted the sweet peas in and what size cattle panel?
The boxes are about 8 or 10 inches deep. For this project I used two pieces of cattle panel- both were 16' by 4' :)
Im in zone 6 it's the end of Feb. & I started my sweet peas, then put them in cool garage. How long should it take for me to see the growth start?
Sweet peas take anywhere between 1-3 weeks to germinate + start growth (depending on your temps)... You can germinate your seeds in a warmer environment to speed up the process but then put them back out in your garage so they can put on top growth in a cool environment.
Thank you. Another video on Sweet Pea claimed that if you soak them overnight they will germinate within3 days, so I thought I messed up. I feel better thanks. I put them in my garage in zone 6. Garage temp is around 50 degrees even though its colder outside. Thank you!@@twosistersflowerfarm
So is it ok to leave in garage to germinate, in there?@@twosistersflowerfarm
@@dorothyv2863 Yes, they should germinate just fine. It's generally recommended to germinate sweet pea seed at 55-65 degrees, but 50 should work too (just may take a little longer). Soaking sweet pea seeds is thought to soften the tough outer skin of sweet pea so that the seed can germinate more easily- but more and more experts are warning against the soaking method, saying that it actually reduces germination.
So no heat mat then? No humidity dome either? First time grower! My other seeds will be inside at probably 68-70 degrees but should I put my sweet peas in thr garage as soon as they're planted, or wait for germination?
I planted them this year in a large pot with a small trellis but they are so thin compared to yours
Love that idea! Give yours some time .. they start to ‘thicken’ up as they are exposed to the elements ✨💛
You don't mention pinching in this video, do you pinch your sweet peas?
Oversight on my part.. sometimes I get talking too fast ;) but yes, I do pinch my sweet peas once they have about 3 sets of true leaves.
Mine died in the mid 20s sadly