Q&A for How to Harvest Sweet Pea Seed Pods

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Will my green pods dry off the plant?

Community Answer

No. They will turn brown and should then be picked. The drying out won't occur until after the pods have been picked.

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Question

Once I have picked the seeds to dry, do I pull the sweet pea plant out of the ground so as to start fresh next year?

Community Answer

No! Sweet peas are perennial and will come up year after year. Our entire bank, by the road, is now a cascade of sweet peas every year. Leave them where they are.

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Question

What is meant by letting the plants pod?

Community Answer

It means don't pick the flowers. They will die off and pods will appear where the flower was.

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Question

Are sweet peas edible

Community Answer

You may want to avoid eating sweet peas. Sweet peas are not the same species of plant as edible peas. Sweet peas may be poisonous, especially when eaten in large quantities and over a long period of time. Eating too many can cause a disease called lathryism.

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Question

When is the best time to plant sweet pea seeds?

Community Answer

Plant them after the frost in the spring. They like cooler weather and will root quickly. Be sure to water if needed.

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Question

Will a big green pod be suitable for drying and storing?

Community Answer

For the best results, let them brown off, but you may still get results from very big green ones. Leave them on as long as you can, though.

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Question

How long can I store sweet pea seeds? Is there any way to tell if they are too old?

Community Answer

Mine keep for years. Place about 6 on a wet paper towel and drape it closed. Keep moist. If they are viable, roots will show in about 1-2 weeks. If nothing, buy fresh seeds. They're inexpensive.

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Question

Will a green big pod be suitable for drying and storing?

Community Answer

You can pick the pods when they're still green, but the pods must be mature. Otherwise, the seeds won't grow. To ensure the pods are mature, wait for some of them to start turning brown. Then, pick some green pods and dry the seeds for several weeks, until there's no more moisture in them.

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Question

The seed pods have appeared on my plant, do I keep watering the plant?

Community Answer

If you are not receiving enough rain, yes, keep watering the plants, as they are perennial.

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Question

Can I eat the peas and pea pod?

Community Answer

Yes. With sweet peas, both the peas and the pods are quite sweet and edible.

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Question

Is it possible to dry green pods that I've collected?

Community Answer

You can dry green pods, but they may not have matured enough to germinate when you go to plant them. It's best to let the sweet pea pods go brown on the stem before you harvest them.

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Question

If I collect seeds from a plant that has 4 flower-heads, will the seeds produce new plants with 4 flower-heads next year?

Community Answer

No. Cutting off the flower-heads once flowered will stimulate more flowers to grow, so this is a good idea if you would like to see more flowers. Other than that, the production of flowers is not definite.

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Question

After I removed the seeds from the pod and dried them, they turned black. Are they still good?

Community Answer

Yes, once the seeds have dried out they will turn black. I have recently been drying out my seeds from the pods ready for next year and they are all black.

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Question

Can I plant sweet pea seeds in containers inside?

Community Answer

You can start them off in a container with a root trainer. But they need full sun and they can be very hard to maintain in pots and containers.

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Question

Can I plant sweet pea seed pods in a container?

Community Answer

You can but they won’t grow very well, I have planted them in both containers and in the garden soil and have had far better results from the soil, not sure if the roots like to go deep or they just prefer the soil type but would definitely recommend the garden soil and not pots or containers for a good display.

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