When Should I Start Sweet Peas Indoors?

Answer: Where winters are warm, sow seeds indoors in late January. (Next year, plan to sow the seeds directly in the garden in the fall; they will sprout and root over the winter and bloom earlier in spring.) Where winters are cold, sweet peas should be sown indoors about 6 weeks before your expected last frost date.

How do you grow sweet pea seeds indoors?

Start sweet peas now indoors by sowing one seed in each 2-inch or larger plastic pot filled with sterilized potting soil or a peat pot. Place the pots on top of a refrigerator or on a heated propagation mat in a cool area of the house, a garden shed or an unheated greenhouse.

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What is the best month to plant sweet peas?

when to plant sweet peas. Sow sweet pea seeds between October and April. For best results aim for late October/November or late February/March as temperatures and light levels are less than ideal in midwinter. Sweet peas can also be sown direct into the ground in April or May.

Should you sow peas indoors?

Peas can be direct sown or started indoors 3 to 4 weeks ahead of planting out in individual, transplantable peat pots or Jiffy starter cells. Indoor seeding works well for sugar snap, English, and snow peas. Germination time will be cut down by pre-soaking seeds for 1 to 2 hours prior to planting.

When should I start sweet peas indoors? – Related Questions

Can sweet peas be grown in pots indoors?

Indoors you can place them by a window as long as they will not experience extreme heat from the sun during the day. Cooler night temperatures by a window are not a problem for sweet peas. You can also use fluorescent lights. However, plants should be about 6- 12 in.

Can you sow sweet peas in pots?

Sweet peas thrive in pots. Choose a rich peat free potting compost and mix in loam-based compost to provide extra water retention. Firm in the compost well.

Is it better to start peas inside or outside?

Pea seeds are viable for 3 years. Sow seed indoors 8 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring then transplant seedlings to the garden when they are 4 weeks old and a few weeks before the last expected frost; peas can withstand a light frost.

Can I start snap peas indoors?

Expand your indoor edible garden with sugar snap peas. You will need a sunny window that receives 8 to 10 hours of bright light. Or supplement lower light locations with artificial lights. Select shorter varieties that will be easier to train.

Can peas be started indoors and transplanted?

If you’re determined to get an early start, sow the seeds indoors now for transplanting into the garden by early to mid-March. Sow peas by a window in an unheated garage in flats of seed starter soil 1 inch apart and 1¼ inch deep. Transplant the whole wad into the garden when the vines are 2 or 3 inches tall.

Should you start green beans indoors?

Starting your bean seeds indoors also prevents squirrels and birds from digging them up, which is a problem that many urban gardeners report. Root shock can be avoided when starting beans indoors by starting the beans in peat pots or the 8 Mega-cell Bio Dome.

What vegetables can you start from seed indoors?

In general, we find that: Crops that are best started indoors include broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes. Those with a slower root development, like cauliflower, celery, eggplant, and peppers, should also be started indoors.

Should you soak green bean seeds before planting?

Here I should mention that seed soaking is bad for beans. Bean seeds can be injured by soaking for only a few hours in water, because oxygen starvation in a flooded environment damages the embryos. It’s much better to plant dry bean seeds into a well-moistened furrow or bed.

How do you start peas indoors?

Do sweet peas need to germinate in the dark?

Darkness is required for germination, so be sure to cover the seed completely with soil. Thin to 1 seedling per hole when true leaves appear. Ensure that the plants do not dry out at any point in their life cycle.

Do sweet peas need cold stratification?

Some seeds, like Pansies or perennial Sweet Peas, need special treatment to be able to break dormancy and germinate! If you have wondered why you have never had luck germinating some plants from perfectly fresh seed, cold stratification may be what is needed!

Should you soak sweet peas before sowing?

Soak your seeds for 24 hours before sowing. This softens the seed coat and speeds the sprouting process by a few days. While the seeds are soaking, fill your planting pots with soil.

What is the lowest temperature sweet peas can tolerate?

Generally, though, sweet peas are classed as half hardy annuals and will be fine in dry frost up to -4°C (25°F). If temperatures do drop below that, you’ll need to protect them with horticultural fleece.

How long do sweet peas take to germinate indoors?

As soon as you see the first sign of germination remove the newspaper, even if only one has come through. Usually this happens in 7 – 10 days. Leave the plants in a cold greenhouse or cold frame and protect from mice, slugs, heavy rain, severe frosts and heavy falls of snow .