If you love sweet peas but don’t have the garden space to grow them in the ground you may have thought about growing them in pots. That question has led you here, so let me cut to the chase, yes you can grow sweet peas in pots. Read on below for tonnes of helpful information like what pot size to use, what soil to use, how to support your sweet peas and more.
Can You Grow Sweet Peas in Pots?
Yes, sweet peas will be absolutely fine in pots as long as some basic conditions are met. These are mainly the size of the pot and the quality of the soil you use.
If you want to grow sweet peas in small pots then you still can, but you will need to choose the right variety. There are bushier, smaller sweet peas known as dwarf varieties, these are perfect for growing in smaller pots and can even be grown in hanging baskets.
Do Sweet Peas do Well in Pots?
Sweet peas can thrive in pots and do just as well as they would in the ground. As long as you get a big pot, 30cm at the bare minimum and fill it with high-quality compost then they will be absolutely fine.
How Deep of a Container do Sweet Peas Need?
Sweet peas grow a long tap root, so in order for them to be happy, they will need a deep pot, this is especially true for regular sweet pea varieties growing in pots.
I would recommend a pot at least 30cm across and 30cm deep for regular sweet peas. Dwarf varieties will be happier in smaller pots than this.
If you are looking for a cheaper way to get large pots then have a look at these plastic ones below. They are plastic but look like glazed pots.
- These lightweight planters are made from recycled plastic and are finished with a beautiful glazed effect
- Made from non-toxic durable recycled plastic, but still look like a realistic colourful planter.
- At 1.08 kilograms, these pots are lightweight, so be moved around the garden with ease
How to Support Sweet Peas in Pots
Once your sweet peas are growing away in their pots will you need to think of a way to support them and give them something to grow up.
Wigwam
The classic way to support sweet peas and it works as well in pots as it does in the ground.
You can make a wigwam easily out of bamboo canes in a pot. Put them into the pot around the perimeter, push them all the way to the bottom.
Then tie them together at the top with twine or a twist tie to form a wigwam shape.
Bamboo Canes
You don’t need to make a wigwam with your bamboo canes and can just put them into a pot straight up without tying them together.
Just make sure the top of the canes isn’t at eye level or else they could be quite dangerous.
Against a Fence/Trellis
Alternatively, you can place the pots against a fence or existing trellis and give them something to climb up this way.
Why not grow your sweet peas up an obelisk for an interesting feature in your garden, even in a pot.
Do Sweet Peas Need to Climb?
Sweet peas love to climb and with regular varieties if you don’t give them something to climb you will end up with a floppy mess which will fall onto the floor. Sweet peas are not strong enough to self-support, they need something to climb up.
This isn’t always true with dwarf varieties of sweet pea but it does depend on the exact variety. Due to the bushier more compact nature of dwarf sweet peas some varieties will not need support.
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.