Sweet peas: 10 easy ways to grow beautiful blooms

A step-by-step guide to filling your home and garden with sweet flowers all summer long.

By Jennie Buist Brown | Published - 12 Mar 2026

Few flowers earn their place in the garden quite like sweet peas. Generous with colour and scent, they bring the joy of outdoors in, filling vases with perfume all summer long.

Happily, they’re not difficult to grow — give them sunshine, good soil and a little regular care, and they’ll reward you many times over. Follow these simple tips for a longlasting display of blooms.

1. Start them off right

Sweet peas grow long roots and dislike being cramped. Sow seeds into deep pots or root trainers rather than shallow trays — even empty toilet roll tubes work perfectly. Giving roots plenty of space early on helps plants grow strong and resilient.

2. Sow early for sturdier plants

Early sowing makes all the difference. Seeds started in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse produce tough, stocky plants, far better prepared for life outdoors than soft, leggy seedlings raised too late.

3. Pinch out for bushier growth

Once seedlings reach around 10cm (4–6in) tall, pinch out the growing tip. It may feel drastic, but this simple step encourages side shoots, resulting in fuller plants and more flowers later on.

Beautiful mixed coloured Sweet pea summer flowers supported by a wrought iron frame, in soft sunshine — GettyImages

4. Prepare the soil well

Sweet peas are hungry plants, so good soil preparation is key. Before planting out, dig in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure to give them the rich, nourishing start they love.

5. Sun above, cool roots below

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot for the best display, but keep roots cool and moist. A mulch or a few low growing plants at the base will shade the soil and help retain moisture during warm weather.

6. Provide sturdy support

Sweet peas love to climb and can easily reach 1.8m (6ft) or more. Put supports in place early — bamboo canes, hazel sticks or trellis all work well — to keep plants upright and looking their best.

7. Water little and often

Consistent watering is essential, particularly once buds begin to form. Allowing soil to dry out can cause buds to drop, so aim for even moisture rather than occasional heavy soaking.

Woman taking sweet pea plant out of pot to plant in garden. — GettyImages

8. Feed for flowers

Once flowering starts, feed weekly with a high potash liquid fertiliser, such as tomato food. Regular feeding keeps plants flowering steadily throughout the season.

9. Remove tendrils for longer stems

If you’re growing sweet peas for cutting, snip off the curling tendrils as they appear. This prevents plants from tangling and encourages long, straight stems — just remember to tie plants in as they grow.

10. Pick often — then pick again

The golden rule of sweet peas is simple: pick them regularly. If seed pods are allowed to form, flowering quickly slows. Frequent cutting keeps plants productive and blooming for weeks on end.

Cut flowers at least twice a week. The more you pick, the more flowers you’ll enjoy.

Hero image credit: GettyImages

Written by: Jennie Buist Brown

Jennie Buist Brown is the Managing Editor of Saga Magazine. She also writes, edits and commissions all the gardening content. She has been a magazine journalist for over 40 years. In her spare time, as well as gardening, she collects and sells antiques.

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