How to Grow Sweet Peas from Seed

LearnHow2

26 Jun 201709:58

Summary

TLDRThis video tutorial, sponsored by the-gift-of-food.com, guides viewers through the process of growing sweet peas. It starts with seed preparation, including moistening them overnight to soften their hard coating. The script details steps like sowing seeds in compost-filled trays, nurturing them until germination, and then transplanting them outdoors with proper support structures like a wigwam made from canes. The video emphasizes the importance of sunlight, moisture, and support as the plants grow, culminating in the appearance of fragrant flowers after about 10 weeks. The host invites viewers to their website for more gardening tips.

Takeaways

🌱 Start by purchasing sweet pea seeds, which are readily available in garden stores.
💧 Moisten the seeds overnight to soften their hard coating by placing them on damp paper towels in a shallow container.
🌱 Prepare a seed tray with compost, ensuring to press the compost lightly to remove air pockets.
💦 Water the compost before adding seeds to prevent washing them away if watered afterward.
🌿 Plant one seed per compartment in the seed tray, covering them with a thin layer of compost and pressing firmly.
🌡️ Maintain warmth and moisture for the seeds, and expect germination to begin within about a week.
✂️ Pinch out the growing tip of the plants when they reach 10-15 centimeters to encourage branching.
🌳 Transplant the sweet peas outside in a sunny location, preferably near a south-facing fence.
🕳 Dig holes and fill them with compost, even if the soil is poor, to provide a rich environment for the sweet peas.
🌿 Construct a wigwam support using four canes placed in a square pattern to accommodate the sweet peas' growth up to 8 feet tall.
💧 Keep the plants well watered and provide additional support with garden twine as they grow taller.

Q & A

What is the first step in growing sweet peas according to the video?
-The first step is to buy sweet pea seeds, which are available in most garden stores.
Why is it necessary to moisten the seeds overnight before planting?
-Sweet pea seeds have a hard coating that needs to be moistened to soften them up, which aids in germination.
How should you prepare the container for moistening the seeds?
-You should find a shallow plastic container, cut a piece of paper towel to fit the bottom, dampen the paper towel with water without submerging the seeds, and cover the tray with cling film.
Why is it important to water the compost before placing the seeds?
-Watering the compost before placing the seeds prevents the seeds from being washed away if watered afterward.
How many seeds should you plant per compartment in the seed tray?
-You should plant one seed in each compartment of the seed tray.
What is the purpose of pinching out the growing tip of the sweet pea plants?
-Pinching out the growing tip encourages new side shoots, resulting in more stems and potentially more flowers.
Where is the best location to plant sweet peas for optimal growth?
-Sweet peas should be planted in a location that receives plenty of sunshine, such as a south-facing fence.
How do you provide support for sweet peas as they grow?
-You can make a wigwam using 4 canes placed in a square pattern and tied together at the top, or use netting as an alternative method.
What is the significance of planting sweet peas on the inside of the canes?
-Planting sweet peas on the inside of the canes ensures that they grow towards and are supported by the structure as they climb.
How often should you water the sweet peas and at what stages do you provide additional support?
-Sweet peas should be kept well watered, with a good soaking especially after planting. Additional support is needed when they reach about 30 and 60 centimeters tall, by tying garden twine around the canes.
How long does it typically take for sweet pea flowers to appear after planting the seeds?
-It takes about 10 weeks from planting the seeds for the first sweet pea flowers to appear.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 How to Prepare and Plant Sweet Pea Seeds

This section introduces the initial steps for growing sweet peas, starting with purchasing seeds and preparing them for planting. Sweet pea seeds have a hard coating and need to be moistened overnight. Instructions include placing seeds on a damp paper towel, covering with cling film, and leaving them in a warm spot. The next day, the seeds are ready for planting. The steps for preparing compost, watering the compost before placing the seeds, and carefully planting each seed are outlined. It concludes with advice on planting extra seeds to account for potential germination failures.

05:20

🌿 Supporting Sweet Peas and Encouraging Growth

This section covers the process of supporting sweet peas as they grow. It suggests building a wigwam with four canes or using netting to support the plants, which can grow up to 8 feet tall. The method involves planting sweet peas around the canes and tying the tops together. Regular watering and tying garden twine around the canes at different growth stages provide additional support. The sweet peas need to be watered well and tied again when they reach 60 centimeters. After 10 weeks, the first flowers bloom, offering beautiful, fragrant flowers that enhance the garden.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Seeds

Seeds are the starting point of growing sweet peas. In the video, they represent the initial stage of the process. The video explains that sweet pea seeds have a hard coating that needs to be softened by soaking them in water overnight to prepare them for planting.

💡Compost

Compost is organic matter that has decomposed and is used to provide nutrients to the soil. In the video, compost is used to fill the seed tray and later, the planting hole, ensuring that the sweet peas have a rich environment to grow in. It's mentioned multiple times, highlighting its importance in successful plant growth.

💡Watering

Watering is crucial throughout the process of growing sweet peas. The video emphasizes the importance of keeping the seeds and plants moist, starting with soaking the seeds overnight, watering the compost before planting, and ensuring the plants are well-watered throughout their growth to prevent drying out.

💡Germination

Germination is the process by which seeds develop into new plants. The video mentions that after about seven days, sweet pea seeds will begin to germinate if they are kept warm and moist. This stage is critical, as it marks the transition from seed to sprout.

💡Planting

Planting refers to transferring the seeds or young plants into soil or compost for growth. In the video, the sweet pea seeds are placed in seed trays, covered with compost, and later transferred to an outdoor space when they are strong enough to survive outside.

💡Support

Support in the context of this video refers to the structures provided for the sweet pea plants to grow upward. The video demonstrates how to build a wigwam using canes, which the sweet peas can climb as they grow taller. Twine is also used to offer additional support as the plants reach 30 cm and 60 cm.

💡Wigwam

A wigwam is a structure made from canes tied together to provide support for climbing plants. The video describes how to create a wigwam using four canes arranged in a square, with sweet peas planted at the base to climb as they grow, ensuring they have a stable structure to thrive on.

💡Pinching

Pinching involves removing the growing tip of a plant to encourage bushier growth. In the video, when the sweet pea plants reach 10-15 cm, pinching out the growing tip is recommended to promote the growth of additional side shoots, leading to more flowers on each plant.

💡Sunshine

Sunshine is essential for the healthy growth of sweet peas, which are sun-loving plants. The video advises planting them in a south-facing location to ensure they receive plenty of direct sunlight, which is necessary for robust growth and flowering.

💡Flowering

Flowering is the final stage of growing sweet peas, where the plants produce blooms. The video explains that after about ten weeks, sweet peas will start to flower, providing not only a visual appeal with their beautiful flowers but also a pleasant fragrance, enhancing the garden's atmosphere.

Highlights

Sponsor mention: the-gift-of-food.com

Buy sweet pea seeds from garden stores

Moisten seeds overnight to soften hard coating

Use a shallow plastic container and paper towel for moistening

Ensure seeds are not submerged in water

Cover tray with cling film and leave in a warm place overnight

Fill a seed tray with compost and press lightly to remove air

Water the compost before adding seeds to prevent washing them away

Place one seed in each compartment of the seed tray

Cover seeds with a thin layer of compost and press firmly

Plant extra seeds to account for potential germination failures

Keep seeds warm and watered for germination in about 7 days

Pinch out the growing tip to encourage new side shoots

Plant sweet peas outside in a sunny location

Choose a south-facing fence for optimal sunlight

Dig a small hole and fill with compost for moisture

Create a wigwam support structure with 4 canes

Plant sweet peas inside the wigwam, two per cane

Water sweet peas thoroughly after planting

Provide support to sweet peas as they grow with garden twine

Sweet peas can grow up to 8 feet tall and require additional support

Keep plants well watered and add support as needed

First flowers appear after about 10 weeks

Sweet peas add beauty and fragrance to the garden

For more gardening information, visit the website