Sweet Pea Beginnings. . .

Sweet Pea Mix February 9, 2025

Sowing Sweet Peas

I’ve heard so many great things about this beautiful and fragrant delicate flower, so I had no choice but to try them! Sweet Peas are a fast-growing fragrant annual that can be grown in pots or raised beds. I must admit these are probably not the best option for my Zone 8a since they are cool loving flowers, but I couldn’t help myself. My thought process was if I started them early enough then they would have a better chance of success!

I bought some Sweet Pea seeds from Amazon in January. On January 17, 2025, I added the seeds to a moist napkin overnight in a cool dark place to help germination. On January 18, 2025, if you look closely, you can see the shell opened up a bit which is what you’re looking for. I then used Miracle Grow Seed Starting medium mixed with some water and filled my 48 cell trays with soil. I sowed the Sweet Pea seeds and then added some vermiculite on the top to help with moisture retention. I read that Sweet Peas prefer germination temps between 70-75 degrees, so I was prepared and bought a heat mat with temperature control.

On January 21, 2025, with heat mat help, about 20% had already sprouted. January 30, 2025, they were looking kind of leggy, but overall healthy and growing great! I kept having to raise my lights with how fast they were growing! I slowly hardened them off for a few hours a few days before I was ready to plant them. On Sunday, February 2, 2025, planted them in my raised flower bed. My VERY first seed sown successfully planted in my garden. Proud flower mom moment!

I’ll keep you posted on their progress! So far, they are doing great! They are heavy feeders so I’m watering them with a fish emulsion fertilizer weekly! Grow Sweet Peas grow! :)