Sweet peas fill a garden with fragrance, beauty and memories

Sometimes we grow plants because they evoke fond memories of treasured times with generations before ours. German irises remind me of the arm-in-arm walks my grandmother and mother took through her country garden. Blooming peonies bring to mind the long row of deep red peonies that my husband's grandmother transplanted from their farm when they moved into town. And sweet peas transport me to the family farm where I rolled down huge hills of green and chased chickens across the yard.

Sweet peas are now an essential part of my spring landscape. Their ruffled flowers are exquisite; their scent is intoxicating as they climb their way up tall trellises, bloom on 2- to 3-foot bushy plants or dangle over the edges of pots or window boxes. Besides growing in these three different forms, sweet peas bloom in a wide range of colors from the softest pastels to the richest, boldest shades.

Sweet peas have a reputation for being prima donnas. Like many great performers, they do make a few demands but if you meet their simple requirements, sweet peas will put on an award-winning show.

First, sweet peas prefer a spot with well-drained, alkaline soil that has been generously amended with organic matter. Mushroom compost, well-rotted manure and homemade compost are all good organic matter choices. Sweet peas love sunshine and cool weather, so give them a location that receives abundant morning sunshine and some protection from hot afternoon sun.

Sweet pea seeds have a thick seed coat. To increase their rate of germination, nick them with nail clippers or rub them with sandpaper so moisture can infiltrate their thick covers. Seeds may also be soaked overnight before nicking them.

Early planting is a must. If planted directly in the garden, seeds should be plunged 1 to 2 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart as soon as the soil can be worked. Keep the soil moist until seeds sprout — as soon as a week or as long as three weeks.

Seeds may also be started indoors, gradually introduced to outdoor temperatures and then transplanted in the garden. Use peat pots so pots and all can be planted, reducing root disturbance. Be careful to set seedlings at the same depth as they are in their pots — never deeper.

Thin them as seedlings grow, leaving the sturdiest plants growing 6 to 8 inches apart. Thinning can prove difficult for many gardeners, but it is an important step to keep the remaining plants healthy. Crowding may lead to powdery mildew. To encourage generously branched plants, pinch the tops from seedlings just above a set of leaves when they reach 6 inches tall. More shoots means more flowers!

Climbing sweet peas need support for their tendrils to clasp. Anything up to ¼” diameter will work — trellis, chain link fence, twine, netting and twigs are all suitable options.

As sweet pea plants grow, water when rainfall is insufficient. Fertilize every couple weeks with a low-nitrogen fertilizer.

And the flowers — the long-stemmed sprays of exquisite, sweetly scented flowers — should be picked for bouquets frequently. Cut flowers in the morning, when their scent is the sweetest. A small bouquet fills a room with perfume. Harvesting flowers regularly will also persuade the plant to put its energy into making more blooms.

Choose heat-tolerant varieties to keep sweet peas blooming well into summer. Lipstick sports long-stemmed, intensely cherry red blooms and grows 6 to 8 feet tall. Zinfandel shows off large, wine-colored blossoms earlier than many other varieties. Blue Celeste may boast soft pastel blue flowers as sweet as a newborn's blanket, but it is a tough, strong garden performer.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.