Growing Royal Family Mix Sweet Pea Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Lathyrus odoratus
- Seed Type: Annual
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: For direct outdoor sowing, choose a sunny spot with organic material worked into the soil as soon as frost has passed. For hardiest plants, sow seeds at the bottom of a 6” trench. Soak for 24 hours prior to sowing and germination will take about 12 days. Once plants are established, fill trench in gradually until ground is level. In mild climates, plant in September through November. For severe climates, sow in spring indoors 4 – 6 weeks before final frost then transplant either indoors or out.
- Days to Maturity: 98 - 112 days
- Hardiness Zone: 2 – 11
- Planting Depth: 1”
- Plant Spacing: 8 – 12"
- Growth Habit: 48 – 60” long vine with trellis or a bushy 10 – 15” tall mound without support
- Soil Preference: Average, loamy, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Royal Family Mix sweet peas are heat tolerant. To extend blooming, add mulch to keep roots cool, and deadhead wilted blossoms and foliage.
- Color: Mix of lavender, peach, rose, red, purple, and white
For direct outdoor sowing, choose sunny spot with organic material worked into the soil as soon as frost has passed. For hardiest sweet pea plants, sow Royal Family Mix seeds at the bottom of a 6” trench. Soak sweet pea Royal Family Mix seeds for 24 hours prior to planting; germination will take about 12 days. Once plants are established, fill trench in gradually until ground is level. In mild climates, plant in September through November. For severe climates, sow Royal Family Mix seeds in spring indoors 4 – 6 weeks before final frost then transplant either indoors or out. Plant Royal Family Mix sweet pea seeds 1” deep and 8 – 12” apart in average, loamy, and well-drained soil in full sun. Royal Family Mix sweet peas are heat tolerant and have no known serious pests or diseases, but monitor regularly for slugs, snails, and aphids. To extend blooming, add mulch to sweet peas to keep roots cool, and deadhead wilted blossoms and foliage. Royal Family Mix sweet pea seeds mature in 98 – 112 days as 48 – 60” long vines with trellis, or 10 – 15” tall bushy and wide-reaching habit without support.
Lathyrus odoratus is native to the Mediterranean region specifically Sicily, Cyprus, southern Italy, and the Aegean Islands. Unlike the common edible green pea, Pisum sativum, sweet pea flowers are actually toxic and inedible to humans.