Sweet peas make an amazing cut flower, the blooms look amazing in a vase and also produce such beautiful fragrance they are a delight to have in the house. That is why many people choose to grow sweet peas to be used as a cut flower. But what is the correct time to pick sweet peas for your indoor display?
In truth, the best time to pick sweet peas is simply whenever they are in flower. You can’t really harm them by picking the flowers too often. In fact, it is actually a good idea to pick sweet peas as regularly as possible.
By doing this you will help to prolong the flowering period of your sweet peas. If you pick them every week and prevent them from ever going to seed they will continue to bloom, sometimes all summer long.
Try to take a long stem when you pick your sweet peas, this will help them to look their absolute best when they are in a vase and will also help them to take on water when cut, making them longer lasting.
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.