Autumn sowing

Considering the dry and hot summer of 2025, it might be interesting to try early sowing. If you are as curious and brave as I am, I think you should try autumn sowing!

It is best to choose one of the early flowering varieties. These require less daylight per day to flower and will probably bloom as early as spring.

Since Sweden is a very long country with very different weather, it is difficult to give general advice for the entire country. Especially as Flower Power is located in zone 0 in Österlen where the winter is very mild.
I don't know how far north this works.

We are trying our hand at this first experimental season and adjusting the growing advice accordingly.

I will aim for 4 plants per 15 liter pot.

For successful sowing in Sweden, you need a cold greenhouse or a cold bench. (A cold bench can be made in different ways. There are plenty of suggestions online.) You can either grow the sweet peas entirely in a greenhouse or choose to plant them out when spring allows.

In both cases, you will need to fertilize and prepare the growing area so that it is ready to receive your plants.

Do this:

  • When you receive your seeds

    • Store sweet pea seeds in the freezer. Then you can save them for as long as you like.
    • Do not soak the seeds. There is a high risk that they will rot.
    • Keep in mind that mice and birds love sweet pea seeds.

  • You need

    • Seeds
    • Pencil and labels
    • Pots suggested 9 cm
    • Potting soil, preferably peat-free
    • A greenhouse or similar
    • Large pots, at least 15 liters if you are not planting in a soil bed in your greenhouse
    • Fill the pots almost all the way to the brim
    • Water thoroughly and press down so the soil is firmly packed.
    • Water the pot thoroughly so that plenty of water flows through. Pack the soil again.
    • Place up to 20 seeds on the packed soil surface.
    • Fill with 2-3 cm of soil. Water gently.
    • Insert labels with names
    • Place the pots in a bright spot indoors.
    • Keep the soil moist
    • When they have grown a few centimeters, they should go outside. You decide for yourself whether you want to put them in the greenhouse/cold bench or outdoors (sweet peas can withstand -8 degrees). It is important that the small plants are as bright as possible and absolutely free of mice. Mice can eat and destroy your plants very quickly. If it is too dark, the plants will become long and lanky.
    • Water as needed.

  • Replant

    At the end of October, my little plants have gained some body and are ready to be re-potted. The sun is shining in Österlen but the nights are cold.

    • I will plant 4 plants in each 15 liter pot.
    • To give your plants the best conditions, it is important to give them good soil. I use well-fertilized potting soil mixed with ashes from the fireplace for calcium and bone meal which is a long-lasting fertilizer. A handful of each.

    • The roots have grown nicely and are ready for a larger pot.

    • To easily separate the roots, I soak the plants for a few minutes before separating them. This makes them easier to work with.

    • Into the soil, about 20 cm apart from each other.

    • Now these pots can stay outside for a few more weeks before moving into my cold greenhouse.

Early varieties

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