Sweet Pea - Candy Floss

Candy Floss is an orange pink, mildly fragrant sweet pea bred By Dr Keith Hammett.

12 seeds minimum.

CAUTION: Sweet peas, including the seeds are toxic. Do not eat.

PLANTING
Sweet peas grow best in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Choose a cool area of the garden with full sun or partial shade.

Sow Outdoors: Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil is workable, even before the last frost. The soil temperature should be around 10-15°C. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 8 inches apart, and provide a trellis or stakes for the vines to climb.

Start Indoors: For an earlier start, sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Soak seeds overnight in water, keeping them away from light to soften their hard shells. Then plant them 1 inch deep in individual pots to avoid root disturbance during transplanting. Keep the pots in a cool, well-lit area, maintaining a temperature of 15-18°C. Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have at least two sets of true leaves, and the risk of frost has passed.

GROWING
Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods, but avoid waterlogging. Water at the base to prevent diseases, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Fertilize every 3-4 weeks with compost tea or organic fertilizer. Pinch off the growing tips when plants reach 6 inches to encourage bushier growth. Protect from slugs, rabbits, and deer.

HARVESTING
Harvest sweet peas in the morning when blooms are open and fragrant. Use clean snips and cut just above a set of leaves. Regularly cutting flowers and removing spent blooms encourages more blooms. Avoid harvesting during the heat of the day to prevent wilting.