Monty Don, the renowned horticulturist and BBC Gardeners' World presenter, has issued a crucial July gardening tip for sweet pea plants. He urges gardeners to pick all flowers regularly to ensure continuous blooms throughout the summer and into early autumn.
The Key Task: Regular Picking of Sweet Peas
On his personal gardening blog, Don explains that sweet pea flowers quickly develop seed pods in warm weather. These pods drain the plant's energy and trigger more seed production, diverting resources away from flower growth. He states, "Be sure to regularly pick all the flowers from your sweet pea plants as this is the best way to extend their flowering season."
Don recommends picking every single flower every 10 days, using scissors to cut stems as long as possible. He advises gardeners to act swiftly upon noticing any seed heads, removing them immediately to encourage continued blooming. According to Don, this practice can keep sweet pea plants flowering vibrantly into September, even during cooler summers.
Expert Consensus and Additional Advice
Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall and Horticultural Advisor to Platinum Spas, echoes Don's guidance: "Keep harvesting the flowers for your indoor vases and snip off any spent heads before they go to seed to keep the blooms coming."
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also supports this approach, advising that sweet peas are easy to grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. They recommend feeding weekly or fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser and maintaining a regular supply of flowers by picking or deadheading. However, the RHS warns that sweet peas dislike very wet, heavy soil and will not thrive in excessively dry, poor soil, which can lead to powdery mildew. Additionally, they will not flower well in shade.
Monty Don's Gardening Legacy
Monty Don, who made his television debut on This Morning in 1989 with a regular gardening segment, has become one of the most respected voices in horticulture. He has headlined several shows for the BBC and Channel 4 and is known for his personal cottage garden, Longmeadow, in Ivington, Herefordshire, often considered the nation's most beautiful garden.
By following Don's advice, gardeners can enjoy fragrant sweet pea blooms indoors while keeping their plants productive all summer long.
