Sweet peas will give you amazing colourful displays if grown correctly, a large part of growing sweet peas correctly is ensuring they have the right support to claim up. In this article I will run through some of my favourite, tried and tested, methods of providing support for sweet peas.
Wigwam
Probably the first thing that pops into your head when you think of sweet pea supports, the classic wigwam. A staple of British cottage gardens, sweet peas just look so right growing up a homemade wigwam.
In my photo below the wigwam is made from hazel but this could just as easily be made from bamboo canes, although I think we can all agree that the hazel does look better!
Archway
I must admit this is something I have never done, but after seeing this display below it is something I must definitely try.
Just think how amazing it would be to stroll down that grass path taking in all the colours and the beautiful scent those sweet peas would be giving off. I can’t wait to give this idea a try this summer.
Trellis
A wooden garden trellis provides ideal support for sweet peas to flourish on. All the different holes give plenty of places for the plants to attach to ensuring they are well supported.
Bamboo Canes
An allotment favourite, a row of bamboo canes. Ideal for holding up sweet peas and makes a lot of sense if you are growing sweet peas on your allotment to be used as cut flowers.
This is how I tend to grow my sweet peas in my cut flower section of the allotment.
Netting
Sweet peas will love to climb up any kind of netting. Here in the photo, they are growing up chicken wire but this could just as easily be square metal or even plastic netting.
All the holes give the plants plenty of areas to get their suckers into and attach themselves to. Something like this is a good idea if your sweet peas will be growing in a particularly windy spot.
Sticks
A simple idea but one that when done right can look really good. Just stick some sticks in the ground and then run something between them. You can use string or even smaller branches like they have done in the below photo.
This creates a really rustic looking support that will look right at home in a cottage-style garden.
Why not grow your sweet peas up an obelisk for an interesting feature in your garden.
If you are growing dwarf sweet peas then they do not need support and can even be grown in pots and hanging baskets.
More on Sweetpeas
sweet peas, (Lathyrus odoratus) are a flowering plant belonging to the legume family. They are an annual flower that loves to climb and spread, in the right conditions and with the correct support they can grow to 2 and a half meters tall!
Unlike many other legumes which are grown to be eaten, sweet peas are grown for purely aesthetic reasons. There is evidence to suggest that the pea seeds from a sweet pea plant are actually toxic to humans and not fit for consumption even if this was desired.
Sweetpea FAQ’s
Are sweet peas perennial?
No sweet peas are an annual plant, they will not come back year after year.
Can you eat sweetpeas?
No, sweet peas are grown purely for their looks. Unlike many other legumes, they are actually toxic to humans if consumed.
Are sweet peas poisonous to pets?
Yes, as they are poisonous to humans they are also poisonous to pets, so make sure you keep an eye on your pets when they are hovering around sweet peas.
How high can sweet peas grow?
With the proper support, sweet peas can grow to 2m or even slightly above!
When do you grow sweet peas?
The traditional season for sweet peas is June and July but with the right care and attention, they can be both started earlier and grown later into the season. Regular deadheading of sweetpeas can massively prolong their flowering period.
How to germinate sweet peas?
I like to soak my sweet pea seeds in water for 24 hours before planting them in a seed tray. This soaking helps to break down the tough shell around the seed allowing them to germinate better.