Sweet pea

Plant family

Legumes (Fabaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Plant distance

40 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

5 cm

Instructions

Description

The sweet pea or sweet pea belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae). It produces blue-purple to pinkish-pink and white flowers that are wonderfully fragrant. The pea pods of this annual climbing plant are not edible and are used only for seed harvesting (wear gloves when harvesting as the seeds contain toxins). The flowers contain many essential oils that are used for cosmetics. It is also grown as an ornamental and fragrant plant and cut flower and grows up to 1.6 m tall.

Growing tips

Germination of the seeds after approx. 2 weeks at 15°C. The seeds do not germinate for long. Mound up seedlings after a few weeks, protect with fleece in case of frost, as they are sensitive to frost. The fragrant wild pea is perfect as a climbing container plant for greening light climbing supports such as pergolas, fences, balconies or simply free-standing poles. It can also climb facades, provided they are not exposed to full midday sun, but there is usually not enough space for its lush growth. Regular removal of the flowers prolongs the flowering period. It can also be used as a green manure. Pre-cultivation is possible but not recommended. It does not like waterlogging and draughts. Observe crop rotation.