Are sturt desert peas easy to grow?
Here is some tips on growing the Sturts Desert Pea from one of our senior horticultural staff 😊 The Sturts Desert Pea is not any easy plant to grow, but if you get the parameters right you can make a wonderful display, which we propagate and grow every year. All it takes to grow Sturt Desert Peas successfully is sunshine, heat and sandy soil, something that the majority of Australia has in abundance. Sturt Desert Peas are striking when grown in pots and October is the perfect time to plant them as they require warm temperatures to thrive.To grow the Sturt’s desert pea, it needs perfect drainage, full sun, and minimal watering once the seedling becomes established. A good way to grow in the garden, is in a large tub or a terracotta drainage pipe stood upright and filled with gritty free draining soil. Hanging baskets are also a great way to grow them.The Sturt’s Desert Pea is most commonly propagated through seed, although cuttings and micropropagation are also possible. Seeds need to be scarified before sowing to allow imbibition of water to occur.Sturt’s Desert Pea is also known as ‘Ngooringa’ and is the floral emblem of South Australia. Loves dry warm climates, full sun and sandy soils.
Where can I find Sturt Desert Pea?
Sturt’s desert pea is widespread in arid parts of inland Australia, including in Western Australia, South Australia, the southern parts of the Northern Territory, western parts of New South Wales and in Queensland. To grow the Sturt’s desert pea, it needs perfect drainage, full sun, and minimal watering once the seedling becomes established. A good way to grow in the garden, is in a large tub or a terracotta drainage pipe stood upright and filled with gritty free draining soil. Hanging baskets are also a great way to grow them.
Can I sow peas in September?
Sowing Sweet Peas in September Plant them in September to enjoy their blooms by spring. Soak your sweet pea seeds overnight or chip them to encourage germination. Sow your sweet peas in pots indoors or in your greenhouse. Add free-draining compost to encourage healthy growth. Sweet Peas enjoy full sun in the northern half of the US. In the South, they can benefit from afternoon shade. They like cool roots and cool temperatures so they are planted as early as possible in the spring. A light frost will not harm newly planted seedlings.In mild winter climates, where the ground does not freeze, sweet pea seeds should be fall-sown directly into the garden from September through November to grow strong root systems and then bloom in spring.Peas are annual plants, with a life cycle of one year. They are a cool-season crop grown in many parts of the world; planting can take place from winter to early summer depending on location.Fall is the best time to plant peas. If you plant pea seeds or seedlings in October/November, the plant tops will continue to grow until day length shortens and temperatures drop. Then, with water from rain (hopefully) or your hose, the roots will continue to grow unseen.Cut the flowers every day or so. Sweet peas are one of the most generous flowers of summer. Cut them and you will get more and more flowers, leave them on the plant and they will inevitably form seed pods that you miss.