A Moment for Sweet Peas

What is it about sweet peas?

There is something about a fistful of sweet peas that opens the heart and draws a smile. I think it has something to do with their delicate simplicity. Then again it may be the stunning array of colours from soft pinks to bold dark purples. For sure it has something to do with their sweet, sweet smell. They come by their name honestly.

Almost everyone picking in our flower field is drawn to the towering row of sweet peas. Some remember the homestead days of parents and grandparents where a small stand of sweet peas could be found alongside the vegetable patch. Some some people that visit the farm are those homesteaders. Little ones are drawn to the playful reach of the vines, and we often send them home with a few vines of their own.

Sweet peas are a delicate flower with a shorter vase life than other flowers. Sweet peas are a short-lived cut flower, lasting at best 4 to 5 days in a vase. Adding sugar or flower preservative to the water makes a big difference and will add a few extra days. For the longest vase life, pick stems that have at least 2 unopened flowers at the tip. While they can be picked when more open, their vase life won’t be quite as long. A single vine with several flowers attached lasts much longer in the vase and adds some whimsy to bouquets.

Wedding florists can be reluctant to incorporate sweet peas into arrangements in Saskatchewan as they often don’t ship well. Caitlin knows firsthand that there have been very few occasions that the sweet peas she has ordered have come in good enough condition to include in her designs. That is why we are so excited that the farm can provide sweet peas directly from the garden and into her design work. Each year we plant varieties that complement the colour palettes of the upcoming wedding season. Soft whites and blushes can always be counted on, but recently more brides are looking for the vibrant colours. This year we are excited to include a soft lavender which will be used in some of this year’s events.

Sweet peas have a few needs beyond the average flower. They can grow in shade, but they thrive in sun. They prefer more mild temperatures, but they withstand heat as long as their roots are cool, so lots of mulch is required at the base. They love nutrient rich soil – every year we dig a trench a foot deep and fill it with lots of manure mixed in with a little soil. Then we add lots and lots of water. When I water the flower field and turn off the pump I go directly to the hose and add more water to the sweet peas. If you’ve been struggling with your sweet peas give these things a try. I would love to hear if you have success. The added effort is definitely worth it!

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the flowers we are growing this year at the farm, and what we are doing to ensure they thrive here on the prairies.

Jenny

Daisy and Bird’s flower farm is a small, sustainable, 3rd generation farm located 2 km west of Lumsden, Saskatchewan in the beautiful Qu’Appelle valley.

Credits: @meganchantalmoe