Sweet peas in hanging baskets are a beautiful and fragrant addition to any outdoor space. They're perfect for beginners because they're relatively easy to grow.
Sweet peas are a cool-season crop, which means they thrive in temperatures between 40°F and 70°F. This makes them ideal for spring or fall gardening.
To get started, you'll need a few basic supplies, including a hanging basket, soil, and sweet pea seeds. Choose a basket that's at least 6-8 inches deep to give your sweet peas room to grow.
Sweet peas are climbers, so they'll need something to climb on. You can use a trellis or other support to keep them upright and promote healthy growth.
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Choosing the Right Baskets
When choosing a hanging basket for your sweet peas, consider the size of the plants. Standard sweet peas can grow to around 6 or 7 feet tall, as mentioned by rustylady in the forum discussion.
To accommodate this growth, select a sturdy hanging basket at least 10-12 inches wide and 8-10 inches deep. This will provide ample room for root growth, as recommended in the guide to choosing the right basket.
For sweet peas specifically bred for hanging baskets, the size of the basket may be less of a concern. However, it's still a good idea to have a basket with good drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.
Select a Sturdy
When choosing a sturdy hanging basket for your sweet peas, consider the size. A basket at least 10-12 inches wide and 8-10 inches deep will provide ample room for root growth. This will help prevent the soil from becoming too soggy.
Drainage is also a crucial factor. Make sure the basket has drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil.
A sturdy hanging basket will also make it easier to provide support for your sweet peas' vines. This is especially important for vining varieties, which can grow quite long.
To give you a better idea, here are some key features to look for in a sturdy hanging basket:
By choosing a sturdy hanging basket, you'll be setting your sweet peas up for success.
Choose Compact Varieties
When choosing compact varieties for hanging baskets, look for dwarf, bushy, or patio type sweet peas. These types won't outgrow a hanging basket as quickly as vining varieties.
Some good options include 'Bijou', 'Cupid', 'Knee-Hi', and 'Little Sweetheart'. These compact varieties are bred specifically for hanging baskets and will thrive in smaller spaces.
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To give you a better idea, here are some popular compact sweet pea varieties:
These compact varieties will save you the hassle of constantly pruning and training vines. They're also perfect for small spaces like balconies, patios, and porches.
How Many Plants to Use?
When choosing the right plants for your hanging basket, consider the size of the basket and the space needed for each plant. For a 10-12 inch wide basket, aim for around 8-12 plants to create a lush and full display.
Sweet pea plants, for example, do well in a hanging basket with 8-12 plants. Space seeds 2 inches apart in a grid pattern to allow each plant to fill in a section of the basket.
Growing Sweet Peas
Growing sweet peas is a wonderful way to add some color and fragrance to your outdoor space. Sweet peas are ideal for small spaces like balconies, patios, and porches.
To get started, you'll want to soak your seeds before planting for 24-48 hours. This can make a big difference in their germination rate.
Plant your seeds in a root trainer if you have one, and use high-quality compost. This will give your sweet peas the nutrients they need to thrive.
One of the benefits of growing sweet peas in hanging baskets is that they create a beautiful display with their cascading vines and flowers. You can position them near walkways or doors to enjoy the fragrance.
To promote bushier growth, pinch out the growing tip when your sweet peas have one or two pairs of leaves. This will encourage them to grow outwards rather than upwards.
Here are some tips for transplanting your sweet peas into a hanging basket:
- Transplant them when they've grown back to around 6 inches.
- Pack them in tightly, as this will give you the best display.
- For a 30cm basket, you can fit 4 or even 5 plants.
Keep in mind that because your sweet peas will be competing for nutrients, you'll need to feed them often once they've got going. This will ensure they continue to thrive and produce plenty of blooms.
Planting and Care
To plant sweet peas in a hanging basket, sow seeds directly in the basket, planting 2-3 seeds an inch deep and 2 inches apart throughout the basket surface. Gently cover the seeds with potting mix.
Soaking seeds before planting for 24-48 hours can help with germination, and using a heated seed mat can also be beneficial. Planting in a root trainer and using high-quality compost can provide the necessary nutrition for your sweet peas.
Pinching out the growing tip of your sweet peas when they have one or two pairs of leaves can help promote bushier growth and prevent vertical growth. Transplanting them into a hanging basket when they've grown back to around 6 inches can be a good time to do so.
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Planting Guide
Start by soaking your sweet pea seeds for 24-48 hours to give them a head start.
Plant your seeds in a root trainer if you have one, and use high-quality compost instead of seed compost. This will provide your sweet peas with the nutrients they need to thrive.
Additional reading: When to Start Sweet Peas Indoors
To promote bushy growth, pinch out the growing tip when your sweet peas have one or two pairs of leaves. This will encourage them to grow outwards rather than upwards.
Plant 2-3 sweet pea seeds an inch deep and 2 inches apart throughout the basket surface, and gently cover them with potting mix.
Check the soil daily, and water your hanging basket sweet peas when the top inch becomes dry to the touch. Avoid soaking the vines and flowers, as this can encourage diseases.
Related reading: When to Plant Sweet Peas in Southern California
Is Potting Soil Safe?
Potting soil is perfectly fine to use for hanging basket sweet peas if you choose a high quality mix.
A high quality potting mix blended with extra perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage works perfectly for sweet peas.
Regular garden soil is too heavy and should be avoided for hanging baskets.
Avoid using regular garden soil, which may cause more harm than good.
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Optimizing Growing Conditions
Sweet peas love cooler weather, so position your baskets in partial shade in warm climates to extend the growing season.
To get a head start, soak your seeds in water for 24-48 hours before planting. This simple trick can make a big difference in their germination.
Plant your seeds in a root trainer if you have one, and use high-quality compost to give them a nutrient boost. This is especially important for sweet peas packed into a hanging basket.
Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sun daily, but provide partial shade in hot climates to prevent scorching.
Grow in Coolness
Growing in cool conditions can be a game-changer for your sweet pea plants. Position baskets in partial shade in warm climates to help extend the growing season. This simple trick can make a big difference in the success of your sweet peas.
Sweet peas love cooler weather, and it's not hard to see why. They thrive in temperatures between 60-70°F (15-21°C), making them a great choice for spring or fall gardens.
How Much Sun?
To optimize growing conditions for your sweet peas, you'll want to provide at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
In hot climates, partial shade can help extend the growing season and prevent scorching of the delicate blooms.
Aiming for 6 hours of direct sun daily will give your sweet peas the energy they need to thrive and produce those gorgeous vines and fragrant blooms.
Harvesting and Maintenance
Harvest sweet pea blooms as soon as they open for the best fragrance and appearance.
Deadhead promptly after cutting blooms to encourage more flowers.
Varieties and Planning
When planning sweet peas in hanging baskets, it's essential to choose the right variety. Compact, non-vining varieties are perfect for this purpose.
Some good options include 'Bijou', 'Cupid', 'Knee-Hi', and 'Little Sweetheart', which are dwarf, bushy, or patio type sweet peas that won't outgrow a hanging basket as quickly as vining varieties.
If you're looking for a mix, 'Cupid Mix' is a great choice. It's a compact, bushy variety under 1 foot high that's perfect for hanging baskets.
Tall climbing varieties will outgrow a hanging basket quickly, so it's best to avoid them if you want to keep your sweet peas contained.
Growing FAQs
Growing sweet peas in hanging baskets can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got some answers to your frequently asked questions.
Sweet peas are ideal for small spaces like balconies, patios, and porches, making them perfect for urban gardeners.
You can customize your sweet pea display by choosing a basket, mix of colors, and varieties.
If you're short on space, consider growing sweet peas in hanging baskets to avoid issues with them competing with other plants in garden beds.
Soak your sweet pea seeds before planting for 24-48 hours to give them a head start.
Plant your sweet peas in a root trainer if you have one, and use high-quality compost, not seed compost.
To promote bushier growth, pinch out the growing tip when your sweet peas have one or two pairs of leaves.
Transplant your sweet peas into a hanging basket when they've grown back to around 6 inches.
Because sweet peas are packed tightly in hanging baskets, you'll need to feed them often to provide enough nutrients.
You can grow 4 or 5 plants in a 30cm basket, but be prepared to provide plenty of food for them to thrive.
Dwarf varieties of sweet peas tend to do best in hanging baskets and pots.
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