Sweet Pea Flower Seeds 5g

Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is the climber gardeners grow for one thing above all: that unmistakable sweet, honeyed perfume. Its delicate, ruffled, butterfly-shaped blooms come in soft pastels and rich jewel shades, carried on long stems that make them a beloved cut flower. Trained up a trellis or arch, the vines bring romantic, old-fashioned charm and fill the air with scent through the cool season.

Planting

In Egypt's mild winters and hot summers, sow direct in autumn, around mid-October into November, so plants build deep roots over the cool months and bloom from late winter into early spring before the heat. In the cooler, humid Delta you can sow a little later into November; in hotter Upper Egypt favour the earlier mid-October window. Soak the seeds for about 24 hours first to soften the hard coat, then cover with about 1 cm of soil, as darkness aids germination. Sprouts appear in 14-21 days at roughly 13-18 C. Choose full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light. Space plants 20-30 cm apart and set them within 5-7.5 cm of tall netting or a trellis to climb.

Fertilizing

Enrich the bed before planting by digging in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost. Once plants are growing, or in containers, feed with a high-potassium fertiliser such as tomato feed, following the label instructions to keep the vines blooming freely.

Care

Keep the rich, well-drained soil evenly moist and mulch to hold moisture. In dry weather, check every 3-4 days and water deeply to wet the full root zone. When young plants reach 7.5-10 cm, pinch out the shoot tip for bushier growth. Watch for slugs, snails and aphids. Cut stems when about half the flowers are open, and deadhead spent blooms often to prolong flowering.