We have a little farm in our basement. I started with sweet peas figuring that if I am successful with this lot, then I will start other plants from seeds as well. In early February I began my search for the most beautiful and lovely scented sweet peas. I ordered peas from Enchanting Sweet Peas, Fragrant Garden Nursery and Renee’s Garden Seeds. Plain and simple, I ordered too many – close to 300 seeds. So far, Enchanting Sweet Peas wins for most beautiful packaging. Planting 300 pea seeds all over our yard was challenging, however, I kept a record of which seeds I planted where so later I can judge flowering quality. Peter Rabbit mowed down about 2 feet of new plants a week ago even though I thought I had them well protected with little wire cages. Grrrr…

Purchasing and soaking seeds before planting.

After I soaked the peas, I used the sharp corner of a fingernail clipper to nick a little hole in the seed coat. Some of the seeds were so hard, I could not nick them. I put them to sprout in a separate tray and they did just fine, in spite of the “Bad Peas?” sign I posted.

It didn’t take too long for these seeds to sprout. Then I put them under grow light bulbs.

After the 3rd set of leaves emerged, I took a few days to hardened the plants to the cooler weather outside.

One of the numerous places in the garden.