Sweet Peas... more than a term of endearment!

What is a Sweet Pea?

1.   Popeye and Olive Oil's love child (swee' pea)

2.   Someone cute and sweet

3.   A beautiful, fragrant flower you could start growing this weekend



 

 

 

SWEET PEAS.

more than a term of endearment  (or Popeye's baby)



Here's an inexpensive January project you can do this weekend.

Start sowing sweet peas indoors now to be rewarded with a beautiful display this summer.

When should YOU start: In colder areas (such as the midwest), sow starting containers about 6-7 weeks before our last frost date, then plant them as soon as you can get outside and start planting; sweet peas CAN handle light frosts.

INDOORS:  Sweet peas like a good root run, so sow them in deep cell packs that you can buy relatively cheap from garden supply stores OR make your own!  Use newspaper rolled into tubes (taped together) or...wait for it... empty toilet paper rolls to make "cell packs" for your sweet peas.  Place the tubes side by side in a tray and fill with quality peat free potting mix.  Make sure you know your seed type as some require soaking. 

Sweet peas do not need a high temp to germinate, meaning that there is no need for a propagator.



In milder climates, where the ground does not freeze, you can plant sweet pea seeds in the fall. Directly into your garden. September through November are reccommended planting months to insure that the plants grow strong root systems and then bloom in spring.

 

Sweet peas will flourish if  they are planted in a sunny spot. These climbing annuals will need vertical support. Isn't the twiggy trellis above awesome?  It's easy to make too, provided you have the patience for collecting twigs and weaving.  Still interested...  I'll tell you how to make a simplified version called a sweet pea swath. 

PROJECT:  TO BE DONE OUTSIDE IN THE SPRING.  (AT PLANTING TIME)

* Collect a stack of twigs or branches (or buy some bamboo stakes from your garden center). 

*At the end of the area you are wishing to plant the sweat peas, sink two tall poles about 6 inches into the ground so that they're angled slightly toward each other.  Using twine, tie the poles together so that there is a small "V" above the joint. 

* Continue this procedure at regular intervals to create a frame. 

* At 12-18 inches above the ground, tie a horizontal post to width between one side of the base.  Continue along the entire length of your trellis and then repeat on the other side. 

* Set another row of horizontal posts into small  "V" above top joint.  You can secure these with twine. 

* For additional stability and a flexible holder for your sweet peas, string lengths of twing at open   horizontal areas.

* Plant your sweet peas.

SWEET PEAS ARE TOXIC TO DOGS. 

If you are planning to plant this beautiful flower, PLEASE take precautions to make sure that it is in a location inaccessible to your pets.

Sweet pea contains a substance known as aminoproprionitrite , which gives the plant its toxic effects.

 

Dogs that ingest sweet pea often develop symptoms that include pacing, head pressing, weakness and lethargy. According to the ASPCA, ingestion of sweet pea also can lead to seizures, tremors and even death.

 

Dog owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they are concerned about sweet pea poisoning

For more information on sweet peas and other garden dangers... please visit
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

How much longer until spring?

WINTER.

Truly, to a gardener it is nothing more than a speed bump in the growing season road.

Yes, I will admit that there are some stunning features in the winter landscape.  From the cool shape of the harry launders walking stick, to the striking color of the red twig dogwood bushes.  Even the berries on vines and shrubs this time of year are quite pretty. 

But let's be realistic... inside every gardener there is a little voice that is SCREAMING to get out and dig in the dirt...now.  Spring can't come soon enough.

Only about 100 days until the craziness begins.  But who's counting?  :)

I have been bombarded with several mail order garden catalogs the past month which brings me to:

WHAT TO DO DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY FOR YOUR GARDEN.

Order your summer flowering bulbs and perennials now.  

Last summer, I'm sure that as you walked around your garden you imagined adding something here or there.  You might have even jotted down some notes.

Pull out your garden journal and start thumbing through the pages.

There are several mail order gardening companies.  Many offer special deals this time of year in the way of free shipping or free product. Order now for delivery and planting in the spring.  This is kind of a "fix it and forget it" approach.  As the weather warms up during the next few months you will have time to head out and clean up your flower beds, or in our case DIG NEW ONES!

By the time our beds are clean and the new ones dug, our plants will be arriving ready for planting.

If you took a look around your yard this winter and realized you had nothing to look at, consider adding some grasses, red twig dogwood or coneflower for more winter interest next year.

Some companies that I like are:

• White Flower Farm
• Burgess Seed and Plant Company
• Dutch Gardens
• Michigan Bulb Company
• Spring Hill Nursary
• Bluestone Perennials

 DID YOU KNOW...

January is National Mail Order Gardening month

 

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more winter tips and to hear about our upcoming spring projects.