6 Essential Resources for Growing Sweet Peas

As I begin the work of selecting what to grow on my urban farm, sweet peas are high on the list because of their beauty of course, but more specifically, because they have high value as a cut flower and are hard to ship, making them a gem of a flower to add to my profit growing list. Below is a list of some of the resources I have consulted in prep to plant them this fall. i hope that you might consider planting some sweet peas in garden this fall (zone 10b) or late winter early spring in other climates. They are a stunning historic heirloom of the garden which we should all have at least one of in my opinion!

Botanical drawing of red, purple, pink, and white sweet peas growing on the vine

If you are a bit of a science geek, like me, you will really enjoy the books and archives.

If you are in a cut to the chase mode- learn to grow here, source seed here.

1. Books on Sweet Pea Cultivation, Breeding & Seed Saving

• "The Sweet Pea Book" by Graham Rice

• "Seed Saving" by Andrew McDeere

• "The Book of The Sweet Pea" by D. B Crane

• "Sweet Peas: An Essential Guide" by Roger Parsons

• "The Culture & Diseases of the Sweet Pea: Complete Guide to Growing" by Tabenhaus

Botanical Drawing of Sweet Peas, red, pink, and their pods

2. Sweet Pea Societies, Clubs, & Archives

• National Sweet Pea Society (UK)

• Smithsonian Gardens Sweet Pea Archives No official website link available for American Sweet Pea Society, but this link has amazing historical info about sweet peas in the US.

• Archives of American Gardens This isn't specifically sweet pea related, but its store house of pictures of American gardens organized by state. Fantastic visual resource for urban garden design.

3. Online Resources & Growing Guides

• Floret Flowers

• White Flower Farm

• Ardelia Farm

• RHS Sweet Pea Growing Guide