Sweet Pea Seeds

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is the climbing annual that gardeners grow for scent above all else: each ruffled, butterfly-shaped bloom releases a sweet, honeyed perfume, and the colour range runs from blush and lavender to deep crimson and violet. As a Mediterranean-native cut flower it is unmatched for the vase, and its long, twining vines turn any fence or trellis into a fragrant screen.

Planting

In Egypt, sow direct in autumn, around mid-October to November, so plants build deep roots over the cool winter and bloom from late winter into spring before summer heat stops flowering. Soak the seeds for about 24 hours first to soften the hard coat, then cover with roughly 1 cm of soil, since darkness aids germination. Germination takes 14-21 days at about 13-18 C. Space plants 20-30 cm apart and set them within 5-7.5 cm of a tall trellis or netting (up to 1.8-2.4 m) for the vines to climb. In the cooler Delta you can sow a little later; in hotter Upper Egypt favour the earlier mid-October window.

Fertilizing

Enrich the bed before planting by digging in well-rotted manure or compost. Once plants are in active growth, or in containers, feed with a high-potassium fertiliser such as tomato feed, following the label instructions.

Care

Grow in full sun (six or more hours daily) in rich, well-drained soil kept evenly moist; mulch helps retain moisture, and in dry weather check every 3-4 days and water deeply to the full root depth. Pinch out the shoot tip when young plants reach 7.5-10 cm to encourage bushy, branched growth. Watch for slugs, snails and aphids, and avoid replanting in the same spot two years running. Cut stems when about half the flowers are open, and deadhead spent blooms often to keep flowering going.