edenhana

Sweet Pea

A climbing cottage-garden classic best sown in autumn in most of NZ, though cold-area gardeners should wait for spring; pinch seedling tips early to force bushier growth and deadhead often to keep it flowering.

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Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
15cm
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Mature height
1.8m
Flowering season
Jan, Oct, Nov, Dec
Common diseases
Powdery mildew
Common pests
Slugs and snails

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-June. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: August-September.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & plantingAutumn in most areas; spring in cold areas

    • Sow into free-draining soil in full sun, with a trellis or support in place for climbing to 180cm
    • Cold-area gardeners should wait for spring rather than risk autumn frost on young seedlings
    • Slugs and snails can shred emerging seedlings overnight, so protect them early

  2. Establishment

    • Pinch out seedling tips once a few leaves have formed to force bushier, more floriferous growth
    • Provide support early so climbing tendrils have something to grip as they take off

  3. Vegetative growth

    • A vigorous climber that reaches up to 180cm, so keep tying in or guiding growth onto its support
    • Water moderately and regularly; erratic watering encourages powdery mildew
    • Watch leaves for powdery mildew, especially as the season warms and airflow between plants drops

  4. Flowering

    • Deadhead spent blooms often, letting pods form quickly stops new flowers from being produced
    • Cut flowers regularly for the vase, which also acts as a form of deadheading
    • Keep watching for powdery mildew on leaves and slugs and snails around the base

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