Will sweet peas self seed
David Perry
Updated on April 25, 2026
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. While they are similarly shaped, sweet pea pods can be distinguished by their fine, white “hair.”
Do sweet peas reseed themselves?
Plant Propagation: Sweet Peas are grown from seed. … For an indoor start, plant seeds 4 6 weeks before the last frost in your area. Garden Tip: Nick seeds and soak in water overnight, to speed germination. Once your plants have been established, they usually reseed themselves.
Should I remove seed pods from sweet peas?
It is very important to deadhead your sweet peas. Look out for seed pods developing and snip them off regularly. This prevents the plants forming seed, which would stop the plants producing flowers.
What to do if sweet peas go to seed?
Saving sweet pea seeds Leave the seed pods on the plants until they have turned a paper bag colour. Collect them on a dry day, remove them from their pods and store in paper bags in a dry place until you a ready to sow them.Do Sweetpeas come every year?
Do sweet peas come back every year? … The annuals, Lathyrus odoratus, are usually highly fragrant climbers that last for one season and have to be sown fresh every year. The perennial or ‘everlasting’ types, Lathyrus latifolius, come back every spring, but most have little to no scent.
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.
Can you save sweet pea seeds for 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.
Why are my 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). … Lack of flowers can also sometimes be a result of too much nitrogen fertiliser, which produces tall, leafy plants but no flowers.How do you grow sweet peas in toilet rolls?
- Prepare the cardboard rolls you want to use. …
- Fill the cardboard rolls with compost (any type you have will do). …
- Take your chosen seeds and open the packet. …
- Carefully pick up one seed at a time and place 2 seeds on the top of the compost of each cardboard roll before pushing them down into the compost.
In most locations where frosts occur, sweet peas should be planted in very late winter or early spring as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. (Do not wait to sow until last frost.)
Article first time published onAre the pods from sweet peas edible?
Sweet peas will keep flowering if you pick the flowers regularly – a good excuse to have some beautiful flowers in your home. Remember- sweet pea seed pods look similar to edible pea pods but they are poisonous and must not be eaten.
Do sweet peas need full sun?
Make sure you plant the sweet peas outside after the last frost date in your area. Choose a spot in full sun or very light dappled shade with rich, well-drained soil.
Do super sugar snap peas need a trellis?
Sugar snap peas are like snow peas in that we eat the entire pod. A difference is that the pods of snow peas are flat and those of sugar snap peas are round. Unlike beans, peas do not open when they are ripe or have a membrane in the pod. Most cultivars are climbing vines and need a trellis for support (Fig.
Can you grow sweet peas in pots?
Sweet Peas can be very successfully grown in containers providing a few basic rules are observed. These are; The container needs to be sufficient volume for the number of plants with a minimum size of 20 litres. Sweet Peas have a large root system and can easily become pot bound.
Are sweet peas poisonous to dogs?
Any of these plants can be considered toxic to your dog, cat, or other small animals. Although they sound like they should be edible, sweet pea plants are not food. As a matter of fact, they contain the toxic chemical called aminoproprionitrile, which causes musculoskeletal and central nervous system problems.
How long are sweet pea seeds viable?
Sweet pea seeds should remain viable for two to three years if properly stored. Harvesting sweet pea seeds is as simple as letting the pods mature on the vine until they’re ready to pick, letting them dry out, and storing.
Can I put sweet peas in a hanging basket?
The scent of sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) fill the air in spring and summer. … Dwarf sweet pea varieties are well-suited for growing in hanging baskets, from which their trailing vines cascade. Sweet peas grow as annuals in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11.
Do deer eat sweet peas?
PattyinStLouis. I have old fashioned sweet peas that climb. The deer occasionally taste them and eat the buds, but do not mow them down, so they must not be a favorite of theirs, as they eat everything around them.
How do you plant perennial sweet pea seeds?
Growing Everlasting pea from seed Sow anytime between Feb and March, in seed trays or small containers using a peat free compost. Keep in a warm place around 18C to germinate, which will take around 10 days. Pot on when large enough to handle and then move outside to gradually harden off, ready for planting out.
Is it too late to sow sweet peas in April?
It is not too late to sow sweet pea seeds, they will be a bit behind ones sown earlier, but will flower later as well. Morrisons were selling 7cm square pots with about a dozen seedlings in , last weekend, if you wanted to risk splitting them.
How long do sweet peas take to grow from seed?
Spring-sown sweet peas flower in 12-14 weeks. Sweet peas often have a hard seed coat making them more difficult to germinate. To soften the seed coat, place your seeds on a layer of moist vermiculite or kitchen tissue in an airtight container in a warm room, and sow them as soon as they swell or begin to sprout.
Do you soak sweet pea seeds before planting?
Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. This softens the seed coat and speeds up the sprouting process. … While the seeds are soaking, fill your planting pots with good quality potting soil. Sweet peas produce abundant roots, so use the deepest pots you can find.
Is Miracle Grow good for sweet peas?
What to feed your sweet peas with? My mother always used dried blood mixed in water. Our garden was on clay and this seemed very successful. I might use tomato fertiliser of Miracle-gro which is a soluble general fertiliser with loads of potash.
How long does it take to grow a sweet pea flower?
Tip. Sweet peas begin to produce flowers 90 to 120 days after planting seeds, depending on the species and cultivar.
Do I need a trellis for sweet peas?
Because Sweet Peas are vining, they need support to grow up and flower. Many types of structures can work such as a trellis, supports with mesh or twine, or fences. They need a structure that is well anchored in the ground to support the weight of the vines.
Is it too late to plant sweet pea seeds in May?
You can plant sweet peas in the autumn or in the spring. Do not plant sweet peas out too late or they will not have much time to flower. It’s recommended you plant your sweet peas before the end of May.
Is it too late to plant peas in May?
Edible peas are a cool-season crop that are best planted in the early spring and again in the late summer. It is too late for the spring planting, but you’re not out of luck for this growing season. … Peas can tolerate a light frost and should be harvested as soon as the pods are filled.
Are sweet peas Hardy?
Sweet Peas in Cold Weather Sweet peas are frost hardy annuals. So there is no need to worry if a “normal” overnight frost in the range -1 to -4 degrees centigrade is forecast.
How toxic are sweet pea seeds?
The seeds of sweet peas are mildly poisonous, containing lathyrogens that, if ingested, in large quantities can cause a condition called Lathyrus. Symptoms of Lathyrus are paralysis, labored breathing, and convulsions.
Can rabbits eat sweet peas?
Peas. … Sweet peas are very pretty but they are also poisonous, so if you want pretty climbing flowers, that are completely rabbit safe, the edible kind is a better option.
What's the difference between green peas and sweet peas?
The size of the sweet pea pods are also corresponding smaller than the green pea pods. They are generally between 2 to 4 inches long and are usually covered in hairs, where as most varieties of green peas tend to have a smooth texture on the surface.