Domakihub How to Grow Sweet Peas: A Step-by-Step Guide
From sowing seeds to picking armfuls of scented blooms — everything you need to know.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Sweet peas are one of the most rewarding climbers you can add to a garden, balcony, or hotel courtyard — they reward minimal effort with weeks of intensely fragrant, cut-flower-ready blooms. The RHS video above walks you through the essentials visually; this guide gives you the ordered steps and practical detail to get results in the Greek climate, where long sunny springs and warm autumns open up a wider sowing window than gardeners further north enjoy. Whether you are refreshing the outdoor area of a holiday rental or adding seasonal color to a private villa garden, sweet peas deliver immediate, high-impact results.
Why Sweet Peas Work Well in Greece
Greece's mild winters and long, cool springs create near-ideal conditions for sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus). The plants thrive in cool-to-warm temperatures and will flower heavily from late winter through early summer before the peak heat arrives. Unlike northern Europe, where gardeners must start seeds in autumn or early spring to beat the cold, in Greece you can sow in October for winter-protected seedlings that will explode into bloom as early as February or March.
Sweet peas do struggle in high summer heat — above roughly 28°C they stop flowering and go to seed quickly. This makes them a perfect gap-filler between your winter plantings and the full heat of a Greek July, and they work beautifully as a seasonal feature for holiday rental check-ins during the spring shoulder season.
Choosing Varieties and Supports
Spencer types produce the largest, most intensely perfumed blooms and are the best choice for cutting — ideal for filling vases in rental properties or hotel rooms. Dwarf varieties such as 'Cupid' or 'Patio' suit containers and balconies where vertical height is limited. For vigorous wall or pergola coverage, heritage climbing varieties can reach 2 metres or more and create an impressive scented screen.
Sweet peas are natural climbers with fine tendrils that grip almost any structure. Bamboo wigwams, wire mesh panels, metal obelisks, and rustic hazel twig teepees all work well. Whatever support you choose, install it before sowing or transplanting to avoid disturbing roots later.
How to Grow Sweet Peas in 5 Steps
- 1
Sow the Seeds
Fill deep pots or root-trainer cells with good-quality seed compost. Soak seeds overnight in water to soften the hard coat, then sow two seeds per cell at a depth of about 2 cm. In Greece, October is the ideal outdoor sowing month; alternatively sow February to March for a later flush. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged and place pots in a sheltered spot with good light.
- 2
Harden Off and Plant Out
Once seedlings reach 10–15 cm and have at least two pairs of leaves, begin hardening them off by moving pots outside for increasing periods over one to two weeks. Choose a planting site in full sun with deep, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure. Space plants 20–25 cm apart at the base of your support structure.
- 3
Train and Pinch Out
When plants are about 10 cm tall, pinch out the growing tip just above a leaf node. This sounds counterintuitive but it forces the plant to send out side-shoots, producing a bushy plant with many more flowering stems rather than one weak central leader. As plants grow, gently guide tendrils onto the support every few days; they climb willingly once pointed in the right direction.
- 4
Water and Feed Regularly
Sweet peas have deep roots and dislike drying out, especially once they start to flower. Water deeply two to three times per week during dry spells. Begin feeding with a high-potash liquid fertiliser (such as a tomato feed) every two weeks once the first flower buds appear; potassium encourages bloom production and intensifies fragrance. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which push leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
- 5
Pick Flowers Constantly
The single most important thing you can do to extend flowering is to cut blooms regularly — every two to three days if possible. Sweet peas are programmed to set seed and die once pods form; removing flowers before they fade prevents this and tricks the plant into producing more. Cut stems long and bring them indoors; a small vase of sweet peas on a reception desk or kitchen table is one of the most cost-effective hospitality touches imaginable.
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FAQ
- Can sweet peas grow in containers on a Greek balcony?
- Yes, with the right setup. Choose a deep container (at least 30 cm deep) so the long roots have space, use a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety, and add a bamboo tee-pee or trellis panel for support. Water every day in warm weather and feed weekly once buds appear. Balcony positions that get morning sun and afternoon shade will extend the flowering season in warmer areas of Greece.
- When should I sow sweet peas in Greece?
- October is the prime sowing time across most of Greece — plants establish over winter, when temperatures are cool but rarely freezing at low elevations, and flower from February or March onward. If you miss the autumn window, sow February to March for a slightly later, shorter flush before summer heat arrives. Avoid sowing in midsummer; the heat prevents germination and the plants cannot survive the conditions.
- Why have my sweet peas stopped flowering?
- The two most common causes are heat and seed-set. Once temperatures consistently exceed 28°C, sweet peas naturally wind down. If you are still in the cooler season, check whether any seed pods have been allowed to form — even one or two mature pods signals the plant to stop producing flowers. Strip off every faded bloom and any developing pods, water deeply, and plants will often rally with another flush of flowers.