# Growing Sweet Peas in Winter

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/growing-sweet-peas-in-winter/
- Published: 2026-10-24T03:00:30-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

Sweet peas are beloved flowers among many, known for their fragrant blooms and easy
care requirements, making them popular choices as cut flowers.

Home gardeners in temperate regions can begin growing sweet peas as early as winter
and store them in a cold frame until planting time in early Spring. Sweet peas require
consistent moisture, as their heavy feeder roots demand it.

## Planting

Sweet peas are perennially beloved cut flowers that bring back fond memories for
home gardeners – often associated with grandparents or other elderly relatives. 
If you live in a cold winter area, planting seeds during autumn for optimal bloom
is recommended; while those in moderate climates should start them as soon as the
ground becomes workable in spring.

Plant your sweet peas where they can receive adequate support – these fast-growing
vines need something sturdy like netting or trellis to provide support; otherwise
they could become unmanageable with so many flowers on them! Giving them something
they can climb will encourage flower buds to form earlier as well.

## Watering

Sweet peas are highly susceptible to the effects of ethylene gas, which causes their
seed pods to open and release their seeds – an adaptive measure that helps spread
their plants more widely. To avoid this happening in your garden, be sure to wait
until all flowers have finished flowering before adding any ripening fruit or vegetables
into it.

As sweet pea seeds have thick seed coats, for optimal germination they require consistent
moist conditions. A dry environment could cause their seed coats to contract into
tight bundles that won’t sprout at all; to increase humidity cover soil with plastic
to raise its level; once sowing take place bury them 1/2 in under the soil rather
than using paper towels on windowsills which expose too much light and fail to germinate).

## Fertilizing

Sweet peas are heavy feeders, and adding blood meal or commercial fertilizer such
as 12-24-12 around their roots will keep them blooming vigorously. This is particularly
important in areas with cold winter climates where plants may need to extend outward
rather than upward from their initial roots.

Sweet peas are one of the easiest annual climbers (Lathyrus odoratus) to grow, providing
color and fragrance to beds, balconies and even florists’ bouquets – no matter the
amount of space available for gardening. Boasting new dwarf varieties that don’t
climb so much as grow as container flowers (8-10 inch container flowers) as well
as long-stemmed multi-flora varieties which even produce well in Northern regions,
sweet peas are accessible and enjoyable by any gardener!

## Pruning

Sweet peas are tough enough to tolerate light frost, but cold winds can dry out 
their leaves and flowers as well as cause vine damage. To protect our bed against
such threats, we cover it at night if temperatures dip below 32degF (0degC).

Many container-grown varieties feature tendrils that latch onto structures such 
as netting or structures like trellises and arbors, while non-climbing dwarf varieties
serve as annual fillers in garden beds and borders.

Harvesting stems at the appropriate time is key when growing sweet peas; although
their flowers don’t last as long in vases, they still make great additions to floral
arrangements if harvested at just the right moment. We recommend Hortnova netting
stretched between supports as a cost-effective and straightforward solution – and
make harvesting sweet peas simpler!

## Harvesting

Unless you intend on replanting your sweet peas next spring, harvest them as soon
as their seed pods dry and crack. While this process can be tricky at first glance,
since their pods often drop when this occurs; with practice it becomes much simpler;
just remember where to look (tops of vines with seed pods) and have sharp scissors
handy.

As part of your care for sweet peas, ensure they are tied securely to their supports–
otherwise they could rip themselves free! Hortnova netting stretched between supports
is effective but other solutions such as bamboo stake teepees or cattle fence panels
may work better if growing for larger-scale operations.

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