SHORT CULTURE ON SWEET PEA 
HOW TO START THE SEED: 
Every year I personally visit many old Sweet Pea 
growers who all agree that to get the best results the 
seed should be soaked in water for 6 to 10 hours, and 
such seed that have not swelled up must be chipped or 
filed and dropped back in water until swelled up. 
Some varieties like Xmas Triumph and several laven¬ 
der varieties have very hard shell and must be soaked 
longer in water. 
You will find also many seeds which will not respond 
so quickly. Such seed has either been just hand picked 
or has ripened during a very hot spell, and all these must 
be helped by chipping the skin. 
1. Any soil is good for Sweet Peas except heavy clay or 
too much sand. 
2. Work the soil at least 18 inches deep, 2 feet is better, 
with plenty of rotten stable manure. Cow manure is 
best; use some lime and crushed bone. 
3. Tramp the soil down firm; never plant in loose soil. 
4. Take the hose and water down to the base. Let stand 
a few days until moderately moist. 
, NEVER PUT SEED IN TOO WET SOIL. 
5. Rake off the surface nice and smooth, make rows and 
drop seed not over two inches deep, and two inches 
apart. Rake off again. DO NOT WATER UNTIL 
THE SEED IS UP AT LEAST HALF AN INCH OUT 
OF THE SOIL. (Nine - tenths of the failures are 
caused by watering too soon). When the seed is all 
up give a good soaking about once a week. It is bet¬ 
ter to keep moisture below than on top. Do not plant 
Sweet Pea seed when the weather is too hot, shade the 
glass first. 
6. When all the seed is up, thin to at least 6 inches apart, 
if outdoors, cover the rows with old strips of wire 
netting to protect the young plants from birds. All 
birds like the tender young sweet pea shoots when 
just out of the ground. 
7. Look from the start for Green Aphis. They are the 
greatest enemy. When you discover any, take the 
spray gun at once, load it with one part of 40 percent 
nicotine and 400 parts of water, if the Sweet Peas 
are outdoors; in the greenhouse 1 to 600 will do if 
you spray them in time, or use Nico Dust 6 percent. 
Shoot any black birds that are around your Sweet 
Peas. They do not pick on the Aphis as many people 
think, but they feed most exclusively on the lady 
bugs, who are the greatest exterminator of Aphis. 
Protect all frogs, they feed only on insects. Build 
them little water ponds where they will propagate 
quickly and they keep your garden free of insects. 
8. Give the young plants good substantial supports so 
that they can climb from the start and have a chance 
to produce nice straight flowering stems. Crooked 
stem flowers are worthless. 
9. When the plants begin to bloom give them liquid man¬ 
ure water often; it will produce 100 percent better 
flowers. Cow manure or a weak sheep manure solu¬ 
tion is the best. 
10. Pick daily, even the poorest flowers; it will lengthen 
the flowering season. Always keep the surface earth 
loose to about two inches. Never allow any crust to 
form on top. 
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