Plant out your Sweet Pea this month — conditions are right now.
Growing Calendar
This month: May
Log to journalMove seedlings outside carefully
- •Harden off plants
- •Prepare soil outdoors
- •Space plants correctly
- •Water well after planting
Watch Out For
Powdery mildew in dry conditions
water at the base and mulch to retain moisture; improve airflow around the base of the plant
Aphids cluster on soft growing tips
spray with a dilute soap solution or pinch out the worst-affected tips early in the season
Mice eat seeds
protect early sowings with wire mesh or cover with a cloche until seedlings emerge
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Sweet Pea in the UK
When do I sow sweet peas in the UK?
Sow sweet peas in October–November for overwintering (with protection), or January–February indoors for an early start, or April outdoors. Autumn-sown plants generally produce stronger, earlier-flowering specimens.
Why are my sweet peas not flowering?
Sweet peas need full sun and regular picking to flower well. The most common reason for poor flowering is allowing seed pods to develop — once the plant sets seed, it stops producing flowers. Pick every 2–3 days.
How do I encourage bushy sweet pea growth?
Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has 2–3 pairs of leaves. This encourages branching from the base and produces a stronger, more floriferous plant than a single stem would.
Do sweet peas need fertiliser?
Sweet peas fix their own nitrogen like other legumes, so avoid high-nitrogen feeds. A high-potash liquid feed (such as tomato feed) every 2 weeks once flowering starts will promote continued blooming.
Member guides
There's more to growing Sweet Pea than this guide covers.
Seasonal reminders, deeper guides, and the small adjustments that change a harvest.