From our perspective as Sweet Pea plants (Lathyrus odoratus), achieving our full, award-winning potential for cutting requires an understanding of our fundamental needs and desires. We yearn to climb, to drink, and to produce a spectacular floral display before setting seed. To coax the very best from us, follow these guidelines, framed through our botanical point of view.
We crave a deep, cool root run. Prepare our bed with plenty of well-rotted organic matter; this feeds us and helps retain moisture. We prefer a sweet soil, so a light dusting of lime is often appreciated. Most critically, position us in a location with full sun. While we can tolerate very light shade, it is the energy of the sun that fuels our growth and intensifies our signature fragrance. Ensure we have a strong support system in place from the very beginning—a tall, open frame of canes or netting allows us to climb freely and promotes the essential air circulation that keeps fungal diseases at bay.
To become bushy, productive plants, we require an early intervention. Once we have developed three or four sets of leaves, please pinch out the growing tip. This might seem harsh, but it encourages us to divert our energy into producing multiple strong side shoots, which will each become a flowering stem. To sustain the immense energy output of flowering, we are heavy feeders. As we begin to climb, provide us with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer, such as a tomato feed, every two weeks. This specific nutrient balance promotes strong flower production over excessive leafy growth.
This is the most important secret. You must cut our flowers—and cut them relentlessly. Our primary purpose is to reproduce by setting seed. If you allow this to happen, we will receive the signal that our work is done and we will cease flowering and begin to die back. To keep us in a perpetual state of bloom, you must harvest our stems the moment the first flower on a stem opens. Use a sharp knife or snips and cut the stem cleanly. By doing this, you are tricking us into thinking we have not yet succeeded in our reproductive mission, and we will respond by furiously producing more and more flower buds in a desperate attempt to create the next generation.
How you treat us after cutting is vital for our vase life. Always harvest in the cool of the early morning when our stems are fully hydrated. Immediately place our cut stems into a bucket of deep, cool water and allow us to drink for several hours in a cool, dark place before arranging. This conditioning process is essential for achieving the longest-lasting display. To further prolong our beauty, ensure the water in the vase is kept fresh and clean.
