Sweet pea is an ornamental plant that belongs to the legume family, it has more than 10 thousand varieties that differ in flowering time, height, as well as the shape and size of flowers. A wide range of shades, long and intense flowering, delicate aroma, as well as huge opportunities for application - all this explains its popularity.
Sweet peas growing in the garden
Sweet peas take root well in open sunny areas protected from the wind, can withstand shading. This plant is cold-resistant, with prolonged drought and heat it loses its decorative qualities, but it tolerates short-term dry periods. Thus, sweet peas are ideal for growing in most regions of Russia. He needs a fertile, humus-rich, deeply cultivated soil with a neutral or acidic reaction. Excessively moistened land causes pea diseases, therefore, for its planting, it is necessary to select areas without groundwater. Watering plants should be plentiful, but not private. Sweet peas, the cultivation of which is accompanied by the introduction of organic fertilizers, blooms continuously and plentifully.
Sweet peas can be grown in two ways: sowing seeds and seedlings. Seeds are sown in the soil at the end of April, for seedlings at the end of March. Peas are pre-soaked in water for a day. To facilitate germination, the dense shell of the seed is slightly deformed. Seedlings are planted in the ground in the second half of May, while the plants are placed at a distance of 20 cm from each other. For tall varieties, special supports are installed. Young shoots pinch over the second or third leaf, which allows you to stimulate the laying of lateral sprouts. Seedlings, like flowering plants, are fed with universal fertilizers. The flowering period begins after 3 to 3.5 months after emergence.
Many gardeners use perennial sweet peas for decoration, cultivation of which does not require special efforts, except for transplanting once every 4-5 years. These plants bloom profusely, but do not differ in a variety of colors. Another disadvantage is the lack of aroma. Therefore, between perennial peas, annual varieties are often planted, which are characterized by bright shades and a pleasant smell.
Decorative possibilities of sweet pea
Sweet peas are widely used in creating decorative compositions. With it, you can hide an unprepossessing hedge, make an original bouquet, arrange a gazebo and fill the area with a sophisticated aroma. Sweet pea is also an indispensable attribute of gardens, furnished in the English style. The possibilities for using these flowers are not limited to planting in the open field in the summer, it is perfect for greenhouse cultivation in winter and spring. Sweet peas, the cultivation of which is carried out in closed ground, needs additional lighting, since this plant has a long daily cycle. In addition, peas are ideal for vertical gardening. It will be a wonderful decoration for pyramidal compositions, columns, pergolas, and can also be planted along with other flowers on flowerbeds and mixborders.
This is not all the decorative possibilities that sweet peas have. Growing in containers allows you to design windows, terraces, enclosed gazebos, conservatories and living rooms. In addition, you can place sweet peas on the balcony, creating a cozy shady corner for relaxing in a city apartment.