SWEET PEA 



SWEET PEA 



32S7 



3747. Sweet peas started 

 in pots, with supports. 



applied. Fall-sown sweet peas bloom ten days to two 

 weeks earlier than the spring-sown, and usually produce 

 better flowers. 



Sweet peas planted in the spring should be sown early. 

 As soon as the soil is dry enough, the rows should be 

 sown over the trenches prepared in the fall. If the ridges 

 remain, they will dry earlier than level soil. These may 

 be raked level and a drill 

 opened so that the seed may 

 be sown 2 inches deep and 2 

 inches apart. After the plants 

 have started, but before they 

 begin to stool, they should be 

 thinned so that the plants 

 stand 3 to 4 inches apart. A- 

 soon as the tendrils appear, 

 small twigs should be thrust 

 in the ground to support the 

 plants and prevent their injury 

 by the wind. 



Sweet peas mav be sown in 

 3- to 4-inch pots" (Fig. 3747 . 

 A suitable potting-soil made of 

 well-rotted sod, with a little 

 leaf-mold and sand, is best. 

 Four or five seeds are sown in 

 each pot and covered with an 

 inch of clean sand. The sow- 

 ing should be made six to eight 

 weeks prior to the usual time 

 .sweet peas can be sown. The 

 pots are placed in a cool greenhouse or a well-pro- 

 tected coldframe and given plenty of light and air 

 so as to keep the plants short and sturdy. When the 

 plants begin to produce tendrils, insert some small 

 twigs in the pots to support the plants. The plants are 

 gradually "hardened off'' so that they may be set out 

 in the open ground. One great advantage of this system 

 is that the grower is independent, to a certain extent, 

 of weather conditions as he can wait until the soil is in 

 the best possible condition before planting. The pots 

 may be set 12 to 18 inches apart, using care to keep the 

 ball of earth intact and without interfering with the 

 supports. Good twiggy brush will make the best sup- 

 ports for sweet peas, but when not obtainable, wire 

 netting makes an excellent support. The latter is dur- 

 able and looks neater when not covered with vines. 



The soil should be frequently stirred, and in hot 

 weather a mulch of straw or lawn-clippings will serve 

 to conserve moisture. If waterings are given in dry 

 weather, they should be copious. The quality of the 

 flowers may be improved by watering with weak manure 

 water, but other liquid fertilizers are seldom used. The 

 prompt removal of all withered flowers and pods is 

 essential in preserving a long period of bloom. 



Sweet peas in greenhouses (Figs. 3748, 3749). 



The winter-flowering varieties are the most impor- 

 tant type yet developed from the garden form, and this 

 type has attained its greatest perfection in the United 

 States. This range of sweet peas is distinct in habit of 

 growth and early-flowering character. Unlike the gar- 

 den type which apparently ceases growing for a time 

 when the plants are a few inches high while the side 

 shoots develop, the winter-flowering 

 sweet peas grow rapidly until they 

 attain a height of 2 to 4 feet. Then 

 they begin to flower freely, after 

 which time side branches are de- 

 veloped. Winter-flowering varieties 

 planted in September begin to flower 

 between Thanksgiving and Christ- 

 mas, while varieties of the garden 

 type planted at the same time do 

 not flower until April or May. A 

 knowledge of these characteristics 



of the early stage of growth will enable a grower to 

 guard against considerable loss from getting the wrong 

 seed. 



Soon after the introduction of Blanche Ferry, florists 

 began to grow that variety in boxes placed across the 

 ends of the greenhouse where the plants were near the 

 glass, or small clumps were grown on. carnation benches 

 and trained round the purlin posts. With such methods 

 of culture, and with the varieties then available, the 

 flowers were not received on the market in sufficient 

 quantity to be quoted until March or April. 



Anton C. Zvolanek, in 1892, found a chance seedling 

 among the variety Lottie Eckford which was much 

 earlier and dwarfer in habit. This was later crossed 

 with Blanche Fern,-, and the result of this line of cross- 

 ing was the variety Christmas Pink, sent out in 1899. 

 Miss Florence E. Denser, a white variety, was intro- 

 duced in 1902. Since the latter date many varieties 

 have been sent out. The first varieties had flowers of 

 the open or hooded form, but as soon as the waved 

 sweet peas were introduced, Zvolanek made crosses 

 with the winter-flowering varieties. It was not until 

 1912 that this class was ready to introduce to the trade, 

 but in 1913 twelve varieties were offered. At present 

 waved varieties of all the colors known among winter- 

 flowering sweet peas are grown, and the older varieties 

 are rapidly disappearing in the competition. 



Another group of the early-flowering sweet peas is 

 the Telemly, originated in Algeria in 1900. These 

 varieties are an adaptation of the climate of northern 

 Africa where the varieties of the garden type planted 

 in the latter part of September do not flower until May. 

 An exception to this was Blanche Ferry which flowered 

 about the first of April. An early sport was found flower- 

 ing in February, and from this have been developed a 

 number of varieties which flower from Christmas until 

 after the garden varieties come into bloom. Recently 

 waved-flowered varieties have been developed by Ark- 

 wright, the originator of this strain. This group is 

 better known in Australia or England, and in the latter 

 country these varieties are grown to some extent in 

 winter under glass. 



The culture of sweet peas under glass has increased 

 rapidly since 1902, when William Sim began to grow 

 this flower extensively and has developed the modern 

 methods. Today large greenhouses are specially con- 

 structed for the purpose of growing this flower, and the 

 amount thus invested represents considerable capital. 



Low or dark greenhouses are not suitable for raising 

 sweet peas. Large, wide houses with side walls at least 

 6 feet high and with good top and side ventilation, are 

 now built for sweet-pea growing. No beds or benches 

 are required. If the soil in the greenhouse is not natur- 

 ally good, it is removed to a depth of 2 or 3 feet and 

 replaced with better earth. The soil is trenched 2 feet 

 deep or deep trenches are dug in which to place com- 

 posted soil in preparing to sow sweet peas. The soil 

 should be made sweet by the addition of lime, and 

 enriched by liberal applications of bone-meal. Each 

 year the soil should be deeply prepared and manure 

 worked into it before sowing. 



The colors most in demand on the market are pink 

 and white, pink, lavender and white. The reds and 

 orange colors are usually grown in less quantity. The 



3748. A sweet pea house at Detroit, Michigan. 



