How to Grow Sweet Peas (UK guide)
With their enchanting fragrance and romantic tendrils, sweet peas are a cottage garden classic and one of the most rewarding annuals to grow for scent and colour. They are perfect for borders, pots, and cut flower arrangements.
How to grow sweet peas successfully
Sweet peas thrive in sunny, sheltered spots with rich soil and good drainage. Train stems up a trellis or netting and keep well watered for abundant, scented flowers throughout summer.
Cut Flowers
Fragrant blooms in a rainbow of colours, ideal for cutting
How to Grow Sweet Peas from Seed
- 01Fill deep pots or root trainers with peat-free compost and water well
- 02Sow one sweet pea seed per pot about 2cm deep
- 03Place pots in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or sheltered windowsill
- 04Water when compost feels dry, keeping conditions cool and bright
- 05Transplant into final position after risk of frost, hardening off gradually
You will need
- 01Deep, nutrient-rich soil
- 02Supports for climbing
- 03Regular picking
- 04Consistent watering
Pinching for bushier growth
Pinch out the tip of each seedling when it has two or three pairs of leaves. This encourages strong, bushy plants that produce more flowering stems.
Plant Calendar
To thrive, sweet peas need:
Plenty of sunlight
Sweet peas require at least 6 hours of direct sun daily for the best flowers.
Deep, rich soil
They thrive in fertile, well-drained ground enriched with organic matter.
Climbing support
Provide sturdy netting or hazel wigwams to help sweet peas reach their full height.
Consistent moisture
Keep soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells and flowering.
Sweet Peas FAQs
Pick sweet pea flowers every few days as soon as they begin blooming to encourage continuous flowering. Removing faded blooms and seed pods helps prolong the display.
Sweet peas thrive in containers if given a deep pot (at least 20–25cm deep) filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Ensure good drainage and provide support for their climbing stems.
Feed sweet peas every couple of weeks with a high-potash liquid fertiliser once buds appear. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, as these encourage foliage at the expense of flowers.
Sweet peas can be troubled by aphids, slugs, powdery mildew, and pea moth. Keep plants healthy with regular checks, good air circulation, and water at the base to reduce disease risk.
