Flowers

Noted for their sweetly scented blooms and exquisite foliage, Jasmine plants have been long adored by gardeners. Flourishing in both sun and part shade, Jasmine varieties can enshroud a trellis with a floral blanket, be pruned into a decorative hedge, and even be grown indoors. Despite such versatility however, Jasmine plants still warrant vigilant care. Whether you are considering getting a Jasmine plant, or already have one, this guide covers everything you need to know on Jasmine plant care. 

How to Plant Jasmine

Before you plant your Jasmine, you should seek a warm, sheltered site that receives full sun or part shade. Different species of Jasmine may prefer one or the other. For example, Winter Jasmine is better suited to a south east or north west aspect, while Summer Jasmine will thrive in a sunny south-facing aspect. 

If you are planting your Jasmine straight in your garden, opt for an area with moist, well-drained soil. If the soil appears too rich, add some grit to the planting hole to boost drainage. It is also important that your Jasmine is planted in fertile soil, so we advise you to supplement with compost or well-rotted manure. Taking no more than a handful, sprinkle some compost or manure in the planting hole. By doing this, your Jasmine’s roots can enjoy a steady supply of nutrients. 

A useful thing to know about Jasmine plant care is that an attentive, watchful approach is always best. Jasmine plants are low maintenance and typically don’t fall victim to pests and disease. However, it is essential that you establish their desired habit of growth early on. 

To train your Jasmine to climb up a wall or fence, angle a cane so that it’s leaning on a trellis. Once your Jasmine has reached a height that matches this structure, it can continue to climb upwards. This is caused by arising chemical changes which result in their stems intertwining with the trellis. 

If you are planting your Jasmine in a pot, a cane can again be used to promote a tall, upward habit. Depending on the look you wish to achieve, a compact, bushier look can be created by regular pruning. 

How to Care for Jasmine

Once your Jasmine has been planted, you should apply a high-potash feed once a week in summer. This will encourage healthy foliage and flowers, and additionally mitigate any risks of pests and disease. Nevertheless, be cautious when feeding, as too much can result in overly lush growth (and a higher amount of nitrogen hinders blooming). Your Jasmine plant should also be watered regularly during its growing season, and come autumn, it is beneficial to mulch around the base of your Jasmine. This can be done with well-rotted manure, leaf mould, or compost.

A crucial part of Jasmine plant care is pruning; this promotes healthy growth and maintains a desirable shape. It also deters bothersome pests (particularly infestations that are caused by animals). 

It is best to prune right after your Jasmine has flowered, as this allows maximum time for the vines to establish new growth for the next year of flowering. As young Jasmine plants are shy bloomers, you should avoid pruning too drastically. Try to spare as much of your plant as possible (there’s no harm in letting your young Jasmine plant grow a little freely). We simply advise that you:

• Remove any stems that appear diseased or dead (if older appearing stems are no longer showing signs of flowering, they can also be removed). 
• You can also remove heavily tangled stems, and carefully separate lightly tangled stems to maintain manageability. 
• Remove stems that are growing away from your desired direction, or shorten them to create a compact appearance. 

Jasmine Plant Care: Common Questions

Does Jasmine need a trellis?

In order to climb, your Jasmine plant will need a supporting structure. This is most commonly a trellis. Jasmine plants cannot climb a wall, but when trained to a trellis, they can grow up to two metres in a single season! If you do not want your Jasmine to climb, it will happily grow in a pot. Why not have it as a house plant to enjoy the heavenly scent indoors?

Do Jasmine plants lose their leaves in winter?

Jasmine plants can either be deciduous, or semi-evergreen (if they are growing in milder climates). It is probable that your Jasmine plant will lose leaves at some point, and this shouldn’t be a cause for concern. If your Jasmine’s leaves are beginning to dry up and fall off however, you are likely under-watering. 

Can I propagate my Jasmine plant? 

Yes, your Jasmine can propagated from hardwood cuttings taken in wintertime. To do so, collect 15cm cuttings from the stem tips of your Jasmine plant (each one should be cut below a leaf). You can also propagate your Jasmine by planting any seeds it produces. 

When should I plant my Jasmine?

You can begin growing Summer Jasmine in spring or autumn, and Winter Jasmine in autumn or winter. The care for both Summer and Winter Jasmine will be the same (but always factor in their differing flowering periods). 

Should I deadhead my Jasmine plant?

Yes, it is wise to remove any spent blooms from your Jasmine plant. The flowers can be pinched off, but why not use them for herbal tea making or fragrant floral arrangements? 

Is Winter Jasmine a Shrub?

Winter and Summer Jasmine are of a different species. Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is classified as a winter flowering shrub, while Summer or Common Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is recognised as a vine, and flowers from summer through to autumn.

Highly versatile, and gracing gardens with their beautiful flowers and divinely rich scents, the Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is quite understandably a quintessential annual plant. For every garden, there is the perfect sweet pea; you can choose from flowers ranging from lilac to plum in colour, and can even opt for a dwarf variety if you don’t wish to provide support. Primed for the beginner gardener, read on to understand how to grow flourishing sweet peas.

How to Plant Sweet Peas

Sweet peas can be grown from seed in both autumn and spring; although if you are sowing them in autumn, it is wise to grow them in a location that is sheltered from the frost. 

As you would for most annual plants, sow your seeds in 9cm pots (or a tray if you prefer), and use a peat-free compost. We do believe that a tall pot is best, as their added depth is optimal for the roots.

Once sown, your sweet peas are best stored in either a greenhouse, warm windowsill, or cold frame. One aspect that gardeners find appealing about sweet peas is that they will germinate very easily. However, you can nick the seeds to provide an added boost. This is done by delicately making a cut on each seed. The cut should be shallow enough to resemble a light graze, but deep enough to allow the water to penetrate the seed. As long as you don’t harm the structures beneath the seed’s coating, you can nick with either a knife or nail file.

After any risk of frost has passed, your sweet peas can be safely planted in your garden. Nonetheless, we advise that you harden them off for up to two weeks to accustom them to the less predictable conditions. 

Depending on your preference, you may wish to pinch out your young sweet pea plants. Some believe that this can hinder the size of the bloom, while others are convinced that it allows for bushier growth and prolific flowering. If you are unsure, why not pinch out the tips of some sweet peas, and leave the rest to grow naturally?

How to Care for Sweet Peas

Come spring when the weather begins to warm up, any sweet peas grown from seed can now be grown outdoors. Whether you are planting in pots, or into your garden’s beds, we encourage you to use a rich, water retentive potting compost (ideally a mix of both rich potting and loam-based compost). Make sure you firm down the soil once your sweet peas have been planted, but be gentle, as you could otherwise prevent their roots from properly growing.

Do sweet peas need support?

Because of their vining habit, the majority of sweet pea plants will need support. Dwarf varieties, such those belonging to the ‘Cupid’ series, are an exception to this rule. Typically growing to no more than 30cm tall, they can be grown in low troughs, and even be used as a bedding plant. Why not plant them in a hanging basket for a floriferous display?

Before you plant out your sweet peas, you should have their support readily set up. You can support your sweet peas by making a wigwam out of bamboo canes. However, to allow for straight stems (which are desirable if you want cut flowers), you should have bamboo cane that is positioned at a 90 degree angle. 

As sweet peas grow vigorously, you should tie them to their support every few days. Using a piece of regular string, tie a double knot around the cane. From the remaining string, gently tie your sweet pea to the cane, and secure with another double knot. Try to rescind any side shoots that emerge, as this enables the plant to leverage greater energy into their stem. 

You should repeat these steps throughout their growing season, and provide plenty of generous waterings. 

Do sweet peas need full sun? 

To really thrive, sweet pea plants will need full sun or light dappled shade. Due to being perfect for pots, you’ll have more freedom in where they can be grown; better enabling you to provide a sunny site. 

Do I need to deadhead sweet peas?

To enhance the flowering of your sweet peas, you should remove any spent flowers. Try to do so before any pods of seeds have formed, as these will encourage the plant to conclude flowering. 

Using Sweet Peas as Cut Flowers

As long as you adopt the cordon method, your sweet pea plants will offer an abundance of cut blooms. Aside from being highly perfumed, their vibrant, frilly petals will look stunning in a bouquet or vase. As such, they’ll make pretty indoor accents, and thoughtful gifts for loved ones. 

To keep your sweet peas looking their best, you should replace the water in their vase once a day, and cut their stems once every two days. Why not begin growing a mix of varieties now to enjoy a colourful bouquet come summertime? 

Growing Sweet Peas: Common Questions

Before you begin growing your sweet pea plants, the following questions may spring to mind:

Do sweet peas self seed?

Annual plants, sweet peas will die after setting seed. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean you can’t keep the seeds they produce. Simply bring the pods indoors and collect the seeds. Allow them to dry for a few days, and transfer to an airtight container to keep moisture out. 

Do sweet peas grow peas?

Although their name implies this, the pods that sweet peas form are not the same as the pods you see on a runner bean for example. It is important to know that the seed pods on a sweet pea are poisonous so must not be consumed. 

Are sweet peas poisonous to dogs?

Sweet peas contain a chemical called ‘aminopropionitrile’, which eventually causes ‘lathyrism’ (a condition developed by ingesting seeds from the Lathyrus genus). The symptoms can affect humans and animals, so you should keep your sweet peas out of reach from children and pets. 

Are Sweet Peas available as a perennial?

Yes, typically in the form of plug plants, but many gardeners still prefer growing annuals because their flowers are more fragrant. The flowers of a perennial Sweet Pea have a scent that is much less noticeable.