I’ve planted sweetpeas quite often over the years, but I have never been wildly successful. I manage to grow them, and love their sweet fragrance and pastel colors, but the vines have never been lush and produced as many blossoms as I have wished. Who knew I was supposed to be pinching the sprouts as they grew? How did I miss this tip? I certainly pinch out most seedlings to force branching; why didn’t I realize I should do the same with my vines?
I found a good explanation of why you should pinch sweetpeas quite by accident while browsing blogs and garden sites. Why Should I Pinch Sweet Peas?
“Pinch sweet peas for the first time when you set nursery plants out in spring. If you plant sweet pea seeds, make the first pinch when the seedlings are about 4 inches tall. Thereafter, pinch the vines throughout the season, whenever you think the plant will benefit from more bushiness or when the vines begin to look long and leggy or untidy.
The first pinching is most important, because early pinching directs the sweet pea’s energy to the development of strong roots, resulting in a healthy plant that is resistant to disease and pests. Pinching also forces the plant to branch out, creating a full, bushy, compact plant rather than a long, leggy plant. Each pinched vine displays new lateral growth.” ~ SFGATE
I usually soak my sweetpeas for twenty-four hours before I sow them. This year I am planning on using the winter-sowing technique for my sweetpeas. Updates will follow.
MINDING MY P'S WITH Q 
I am not sure what sweetpeas are but the flowers do look beautiful. Looking forward to hear how they are growing.
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Hi Susie, They are a fragrant, delicate little flower. They grow on a tough vine with a lot of twirling tendrils. They prefer cooler weather, and any I have grown, just like pansies, start to wither a bit around July.
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I have no green thumb, perhaps not even a green nail, but of late, you are making me really want to get my hands dirt-y!
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Awwww….that makes me so happy…come and play in the mud!!! 😀
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Looking forward to your updates on this. How do you keep the slugs (Shelton, WA) from wiping them out? On the pinching, do you pinch your Coleus starts as well? I have some I started from teeny tiny pinches of growing tips. They were too small to start in water so I used a Costco rotisserie chicken container on top of my refrigerator as a mini green house. They all grew but seem spindly.
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I absolutely pinch coleus, almost every stem after they have about four leaves or so. It makes the plants so much stronger and bushier.
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Every time I read or hear the words, “sweet pea,” Tommy Roe comes to mind – such a catchy tune from my teenage years, but I digress. What gorgeous little blossoms. I never attempted to grow them. I sorely miss not having my own home so I can continue gardening and I can’t even have a pot garden because I have no patio or yard space. I hope you have a successful growing season, Kathy, and look forward to seeing the pictures of your endeavors.
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Thanks so much Jane. I’m not familiar with Tommy Roe…will have to look that up tonight. 🙂
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I’m very fond of vine flowers…so delicate…but, such strength in making their way with their tendrils…
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I love them too. I also find that those same small tendrils are great for using in pressed flower work. They add a touch of airiness to the composition.
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