For many years of the Soviet past, balconies and loggias were set aside for storing rubbish and seasonal items. However, today these areas are increasingly preferred to be used to create flowering gardens, planting beautiful compositions both on the balcony itself and in the wrought-iron boxes.
The choice of plants for these purposes today is huge. In this article we will introduce you to one of the most interesting in appearance and unpretentious in the care - sweet peas. To learn how to grow sweet peas on the balcony, about its popular varieties and cultivation features read below.
- The best varieties of sweet peas for growing on the balcony
- Growing sweet peas through seedlings
- Soil preparation
- Seed preparation and planting
- Care of seedlings
- Transplanting
- Sowing seeds of sweet peas directly in boxes on the balcony
- How to care for sweet peas in the summer on the balcony
- Correct watering
- Top dressing and fertilizer
- Garter stalks
The best varieties of sweet peas for growing on the balcony
Sweet Peas (lat. Lathyrus odoratus) - annual flower culture, belongs to the legume family. Its name was due to the fact that when flowering exudes a very pleasant aroma. Another flower name is rank fragrant. The origin of this plant goes far back in antiquity and is not known for certain.
The stem of sweet peas is curly, thin, creeping, weakly branchy. The leaves are green with a beautiful shade of gray. At the ends have antennae that allow you to cling to the support and grow like a liana.
Small flowers (2-6 cm) are collected in racemes of 15 or less flowers. At the same time blooming 5-6 flowers. The duration of flowering of each of them - 4-5 days. Their color can be various: white, pink, cream, red, violet, blue, etc. The flowering period is very long - from June to October.
Varieties are divided into tall, medium growth and short. The tallest plants can reach 2.5-3 m, the lowest are considered to be flowers that have reached 20 cm. Tall varieties are planted in gardens, greenhouses (for cutting).
About 100 of the varieties are suitable for planting on balconies, terraces, and gazebos.The most popular varietal groups are Spencer, Galaxy, Royal, Winter Elegance, Rufled. Low-growing varieties (Mammut, Bijou, Fantasia, Cupid) are used for pot culture.
Also, different types of peas are different shapes and colors of flowers. Not so long ago, the breeders had a long-term view.
Sweet peas can be combined with other flowers. If the plans are only vertical gardening of a balcony, then petunia and hops will do.
When mixed gardening nearby, you can plant roses and geraniums.
Growing sweet peas through seedlings
Flowers of sweet peas are propagated in two ways:
- seeds;
- seedlings.
Before planting sweet peas in the seedlings, it is necessary to take care of the preparation of the soil and seeds in advance.
Soil preparation
If you plan to plant seedlings in the garden soil, then it must be prepared in the fall. Since sweet peas are planted in early spring, during this period the open ground will be frozen. The required amount of land is entered on the balcony and stored until spring in a cool place.
The first weeks of March - the most optimal time when you should plant sweet peas on seedlings. 6-7 days before sowing the soil must be brought into the apartment for warming. After that, it should be mixed with peat mixture for growing seedlings (sold in specialized stores).
If you plan to plant peas in the purchase of land, then the soil "Universal", "For indoor plants". For planting seeds, you can use the usual plastic cups, after making them drainage holes, or special containers for seedlings. Tanks need to be filled with earth and plenty of water.
Seed preparation and planting
After handling the soil, it is necessary to prepare seed material.In order to determine their germination, seeds are soaked for a day (for several hours) in warm (50-60 ºС) water. You can also carry out the procedure for their disinfection.
The next day, those seeds that float on the surface, throw. Remaining at the bottom, swollen, put on a damp napkin and cover with plastic wrap. Before that, for a greater chance of germination, the seed coat can be punctured with a knife or nail scissors. Although this procedure is best done by experienced flower growers.
Capacity with seeds put in a warm place for three days, regularly airing them. After this time, they should begin to spit (a longer period may be needed), and they can be planted in the ground. For this, small holes (2.5-3 cm) are made in the ground in cups, one seed is sown in them and powdered with earth. Capacities must be covered with foil.
If the seeds are planted not in separate containers, but in one container, they should be planted at a distance of 8 cm from each other. After planting the seeds, the soil should be watered. As soon as the green shoots appear, the film must be removed. Put the cups or tray in a sunny place.
Care of seedlings
Caring for seedlings of sweet peas involves monitoring the temperature. Indoors should not be too hot. The optimum temperature is 20 ºС. The room should be aired regularly, and the seedlings should be watered moderately (1-2 times a week). Feeding seedlings with nitrogen fertilizers is possible.
After the first leaves appear on the seedlings in the tray, they should be thinned out, leaving a distance of 14 cm between the seedlings. If the buds appear before planting, they should be removed.
Transplanting
In the balcony boxes and pots sprouts are planted together with a lump of earth after the warm weather has established. The planting procedure should be carried out very carefully, so as not to damage the still fragile sprouts and poorly developed root system.
This is best achieved if the seedling is pre-watered well, and then the cup in which it is planted, cut with scissors and extract the whole soil from there. At the same time in the soil in the balcony container are made recesses that can accommodate the sprout along with the whole clod of earth.
If several plants are planted, the spaces between them are left at least 20-25 cm long, depending on the variety selected.Tall plants plant 4 pieces per 1 square. m
To get used to the new place of peas will be about two weeks, during this time he may experience a lack of growth. During this period, the shoots are recommended pritenyat from sunlight.
Sowing seeds of sweet peas directly in boxes on the balcony
You can skip the stage of growing seedlings of sweet peas, and start growing from seed immediately to the place where the flower will grow later. And if you are going to plant peas in the balcony box next to other plants, then this method will be the only possible one.
One of its significant drawbacks is that the flower will bloom later - in July and August. Although this problem is also solved, it is enough to cover the box with plastic wrap a week before planting the seeds. This is done in order to warm the earth well.
Preparing the soil and seeds when planting directly in balcony boxes is no different from this procedure when breeding seedlings. For the normal development of the sweet pea, a deep (not less than 60 cm) and not very wide capacity is necessary.
Seeds for planting choose fresh, shelf life of not more than one year.After the appearance of the third pair of leaves, it is recommended to hold nip plants, This will give an impetus to the development of lateral shoots. In early varieties flowering occurs 60 days after sowing.
How to care for sweet peas in the summer on the balcony
Sweet pea - the plant is unpretentious in the care, but still requires little attention to itself and compliance with some agricultural rules. In particular, this flower does not tolerate:
- direct sunlight;
- full shade;
- excessive moisture;
- sharp temperature drops.
An important procedure for the care will be the immediate removal of wilted flowers in order to prevent the formation of fruit. After all, when the peas begin to bear fruit, its flowering slows down.
Correct watering
Watering sweet peas should be moderate. This procedure is best performed in the morning or evening.It is useful to spray it with a spray bottle, while ensuring that the plant is not at that time in the sun, otherwise leaf burns may occur.
When watering a stream of water should be directed to a distance of 20 cm from the stem.
After watering the soil under the plant, it is desirable to break through it for better access of oxygen to the roots.
During particularly dry and hot periods, watering should be abundant and frequent.
Once every two weeks you can add fertilizer to foliar water in the water.
Top dressing and fertilizer
During the period of active growth and before flowering, the flower is fed once a fortnight with mineral and nitrogen fertilizers. During flowering, you can use mineral fertilizers "Flower", "Agricola" (twice). Overdoing with dressing is not worth it. There is a risk that this may lead to slower flowering and leaf growth.
Garter stalks
Garter plants carried out after the appearance of the first antennae at the end of the leaves. On the balcony you need to stretch the rope and tie the peas to it with a twine.
It will be like a hint for a flower, then he himself will begin to choose his support for the shoots.You will only adjust its growth in the right direction. In order for the flower to be comfortable to curl, you can put a grid or rail.
Cultivation of sweet peas on the balcony will not be difficult and will give you a colorful long-term and long flowering.
