Monty Don has shared a vital gardening tip for sweet peas in July: pick the flowers regularly to ensure continuous colourful blooms throughout the summer. The advice is backed by other experts and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Why Picking Sweet Peas Works
According to Monty Don, sweet peas quickly produce seed pods in warm weather, which drain the plant's energy and reduce flowering. By removing flowers before they set seed, the plant is encouraged to produce more blooms.
On his blog, Don writes: "Be sure to regularly pick all the flowers from your sweet pea plants as this is the best way to extend their flowering season." He recommends picking every 10 days, using scissors to cut stems "as long as possible," and acting promptly when seed heads appear.
Expert and RHS Support
Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall, agrees: "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 RHS advises: "Sweet peas are easy to grow in any fertile soil that drains easily, in full sun. Feed weekly or fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser and ensure a regular supply of flowers by picking or deadheading." However, sweet peas struggle in wet, heavy soil or excessively dry, poor soil, and won't flower well in shade.
Results of Regular Picking
Monty Don notes that with consistent deadheading, sweet peas can continue blooming vibrantly well into September, even during cooler summers. The fragrant cut flowers also make beautiful indoor displays.
