Sweet pea - a plant that belongs to the legumes. It is often called the rank. During flowering, a very pleasant aroma comes from the corollas.
Today there are more than 1000 varieties. In the middle lane, unpretentious perennials are grown as an annual crop.
Description of Sweet Pea
The height of sweet peas is from 1 to 2 m. This must be taken into account when choosing a suitable support. Dwarf varieties of ranks do not need it. The root root system almost branches out. It goes to a depth of 1.5 m. The distinguishing features also include:
- paramorous leaves;
- antennae providing traction with the support;
- inflorescences originating in the axils of the leaf blades. The corollas, from which the little-flowered brush is formed, have an irregular shape. Flowers are often compared to moths and sailboats;
- the fruit, which is the bean. Inside it there are large spherical seeds. Dents are often present on their rough surface. Color varies from light yellow to black-brown. Seeds retain viability for 8 years;
- weakly branched climbing stems.
China loves warmth and sunshine. The largest and brightest buds appear when growing this garden crop in the Northern or Middle lane. In the southern regions are smaller and more ordinary-looking.
Reproduction occurs through self-pollination. Abundant flowering begins in mid-summer. If the gardener will follow all the tips, peas will bloom to frost. This culture can tolerate a decrease in temperature to -5 ° C. To get the seeds, it is enough to leave the required amount of bivalve beans until complete ripening. The remaining inflorescences after wilting must be removed.
Types and varieties of sweet pea
Perennial peas gives purple or pink inflorescences. The palette of annuals that were bred by breeders is much broader. Corollas can be blue, white, burgundy, blue, red and pink.
Therefore, gardeners most often plant hybrids obtained as a result of breeding of the main varieties.
All types of sweet pea can be divided into several categories.
Group | Description |
Spencer | Tall, multi-stalked. Gives strong peduncles. Inflorescence is forming of 3-5 corollas. Petals differ in wavy edges. The color depends on the variety. Varieties: Aristocrat - whitish-pink flowers with a sweetish aroma; Sir Arthur - soft lilac; Sir Charles - scarlet. |
Fantasy | Compact, not higher than 20 cm. Used as ground cover, planted in curbs. |
Cuthbertson | Long stems, multi-flowered brushes. Each has at least 8 corollas. Look good in cut. |
Mammut | Up to 30 cm. Powerful peduncles, on which many large bright corollas appear during the flowering period. |
Royal | Early flowering and heat resistant. Flowers are sturdy and sturdy. These varieties are grown only in the summer. |
Bijou | The height of the bushes does not exceed 30 cm. During flowering, large bright corollas appear. |
Pink Cupid | Flowers are distinguished by their original coloring. The length of the shoots is about 30 cm. |
Winter Elegans | Reach 180 cm. Unlike other varieties, abundant flowering is possible not only in summer but also in autumn. |
Growing sweet peas from seeds
Sweet peas are planted with seeds in two ways: seedlings (in the Northern and Middle latitudes) and seedlings (perennial in the South).
Seedling method of growing sweet peas
To achieve a decorative effect, it is necessary
- soak seed in the spring;
- create greenhouse conditions for seedlings. With a lack of heat, moisture and sunlight, the sprouts will be less viable;
- take into account the color of the seed coat during preliminary preparation
The first step is seed treatment. To determine which of the collected or acquired fruits will sprout, it is necessary to immerse them in saline. To prepare it, you need 30 g of salt and one liter of water. For sowing, use those that have settled to the bottom. The selected seeds are washed and poured with plain water (+50 ° C) or with 1-2 g of Bud. Beans are kept in it for 12 hours. Thus soften the dense shell. Soaking is a must for fruits that are brown and brown. When planting light and creamy beans, it will have to be abandoned.
In the next stage, germination is carried out. To do this, the seeds are carefully wrapped in a damp cloth and put the resulting bundle in a warm place. Seedlings make their way 2 weeks after planting. To speed up this process, experienced gardeners pierce the shell of each seed with a needle.
After the peas hatch, they are laid out in pre-prepared glasses. They should be covered with a transparent film. By means of it, a suitable temperature regime is created. To prevent stretching seedlings, you need to pinch.
The soil mixture for filling containers is bought or made independently. It usually consists of turf land, peat and humus. Before boarding, it must be disinfected. Sweet pea seeds are buried in glasses by 30 mm. The distance between them is left at least 80 mm.
In order to avoid problems with transplanting seedlings, it is recommended to plant the fragrant rank in peat or plastic cups. The soil in the container must be regularly moistened. In poor lighting near the glasses you need to install phytolamps. To accelerate the growth of side shoots, pinch is carried out. Another mandatory step is feeding seedlings. Plants are shed with Kemira solution.
Hazelless way to grow sweet peas
For sowing sweet pea seeds directly into the soil, the soil must be prepared in advance. The selected area must be dug, loosened and leveled.
In the spring, sowing seeds in the soil is possible in late April or early May. But flowering will come much later than the seedling method.
Planting in the autumn gives several advantages. Among them are faster adaptation of seedlings to climatic conditions and abundant flowering throughout the summer. The procedure is quite simple. Seeds are sown after freezing occurs. Seeds are laid out in grooves. The depth of each of them should not exceed 5 cm. Leave 3-5 cm between the seeds. This distance will be sufficient for normal plant growth. After the bed you need to cover with a layer of dry earth and compact. Due to cold resistance (up to -5 ° C), peas, without losing their varietal characteristics, winter in the soil (only for the southern regions). If all recommendations are followed, shoots will appear by mid-May.
With spring sowing, the seeds should be deepened by 2-3 cm.
Planting sweet peas in the ground
Seedlings before planting must be hardened. Do this for 1.5 weeks. The time spent in the fresh air is increased each time. Gradually the plant will get used to temperature changes, which will positively affect the level of its viability.
The grown seedlings are transferred to the ground in mid-May. The procedure should be carried out in cool weather. Ignoring this recommendation is fraught with the appearance of burns on delicate leaves.
The landing site is chosen, focusing on protection against drafts and lighting. The best way out of the situation may be the sunny side of the gazebo. In this case, leave room for support.
At the preparatory stage, mineral fertilizers must be added to the ground. Sweet pea grows best on moisture-permeable and loose soil. The optimum acidity is from 7.0 to 7.5 ph.
Wells are made in the dug area. The distance between them should be at least 0.25 m. 2-3 seedlings should be planted in one hole.
When planting, a gardener needs to follow a few simple recommendations:
- Sweet peas can not be planted on the same site for several years in a row.
- To ensure proper growth, after the formation of the first pair of true leaf blades, the plant should be attached to a support or lattice.
- China grows best on the sunny side.
- Fertilizers need to be applied twice a month.
- Stems should be placed on a vertical surface. Otherwise, it is fraught with the appearance of rot and disease.
Garden pea care
To grow a fragrant rank, it does not take much effort and time. With the timely conduct of all agricultural activities, there will be no difficulties. The regularity of irrigation is determined based on weather conditions. Watering should be plentiful, but infrequent. In the middle lane for 1 m² 3-4 buckets of water fall.
As the grower grows, he will have to direct the stems in the right direction along the support. In addition to pinching, top dressing and watering, the list of necessary measures includes loosening and hilling. Thus achieve a more magnificent flowering of sweet peas.
When earthing up, add nutrient soil to the base of plants. The composition of fertilizers depends on the growing season. The bushes are fed with a solution that contains Nitrophos and urea.
Wintering perennial sweet peas
Preparing for the cold season will not take much time. The supports are cleaned, the shoots are cut off. The plot is covered with humus and sawdust. Through mulching they prevent damage to perennial garden crops. The plant sprouts again after the soil has thawed (for the southern regions).
In the middle lane, plant debris is removed; in the same place, peas can be planted again only after 4-5 years.
Preventive measures against pests and diseases
To prevent the appearance of aphids and weevils, the wells prepared for seedlings are treated with a solution of Chlorophos. In addition to it, you can use drugs such as Tsineb and Tsiram. Between preventive treatments should be at least 15-20 days.
Particular importance should be given to measures by which they resist ascochitosis, viral mosaic, peronosporosis and fusariosis. To get rid of the first pathology, sweet peas are sprayed with a solution, in which Rogor is present.
When signs of peronosporosis appear, the leaves must be coated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.
The occurrence of fusarium is evidenced by the rapid withering of the foliage. Affected bushes will have to be removed and the ground disinfected. Otherwise, other plants will suffer.
The same thing happens if sweet pea has become infected with one of the viral ailments. It is impossible to cure these diseases.
Mr. Dachnik recommends: the benefits of growing sweet peas
China will decorate any personal plot. The popularity of this plant is due to its decorativeness and pleasant aroma. Due to the wide color gamut, the gardener will be able to choose a suitable variety without any difficulties.
The advantages of sweet peas are considered its versatility and unpretentiousness. Thanks to the dense foliage, a comfortable shadow forms. A bright carpet of multi-colored corollas will give the garden its originality and charm. Additional bonuses include accelerated plant growth and a longer flowering period.
Tall peas are often planted for cutting. He is also appreciated in landscape design. It is used to create the background and decorate decorative elements. The latter play a role.
Ground cover varieties look good in alpine hills, borders, flowerbeds, broken on hills. Due to its resistance to sharp temperature changes, sweet peas will delight your eyes until late autumn.