Short Culture on Sweet Peas 
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 seeds 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 lavender 
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 three 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 
seed is all up give a good soaking about once a week. It is 
better to keep moisture below than on top. Do not plant Sweet 
Pea seed w'hen 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 pea shoots when just out of the ground. 
7. Look from the start for Green Aphis. They are the great¬ 
est enemy. W'hen 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 per¬ 
cent. 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 in¬ 
sects. 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 support so that 
they can climb from the start and have a chance to produce 
nice straight flowering stems. Crooked stem flowers are worth¬ 
less. 
9. When the plants begin to bloom give them liquid manure 
water often; it will produce 100 percent better flowers. Cow 
manure or a weak sheep manure solution 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. 
Dropping the Buds 
In the northern and eastern states, dropping off buds during 
November and December is common, but a great deal of this 
can be prevented. We all know that Sweet Peas like plenty of 
moisture to get long stems, but during the cloudy weather in 
November and Docember it is better to sacrifice the long stems 
for good flowers. As soon as the moist and cloudy weather t'he 
latter part of October sets in, keep the greenhouses as dry as 
possible, even when the soil is dry three or four inches on the 
surface. Keep the ventilator open even during the night as 
much as possible and during frosty nights turn the heating 
pipes on so there is plenty of dry air circulating. 
Should you find a few spots which need some water, water 
only between the rows in ditches and away from the plants, so 
they get the moisture from underneath. This will save you at 
least 50 percent of the flowers. 
