Ken, I don't know what is up whether you are being sarcastic or that is your 'sense of humor'?

I have good soil. I just have too much phosphorous in it from last soil analysis.

Sow them as early as possible; they love cool temperatures. The link below has some additional info.

Here is a link that might be useful: sweet pea info

Thank You Jaynine.

I have good soil. I just have too much phosphorous in it from last soil analysis.

I don't think he was being sarcastic or humorous really much at all. Just like we can overeat and get sick and die, some plants are too gluttonous for their own good and will quickly kill themselves in the presence of an abundance of resources but thrive when they need to struggle. I kept killing marigolds in pots by over fertilizing them, treating them the same as all my other porch flowers. Peas and beans will both burn off pretty easily when fertilized, in my experience at least. I have a nasty habit of over feeding I'm trying to cut back on.

Ken has a unique writing style. He means well, and he's usually accurate. Legumes (peas, beans, etc) fix nitrogen by the action of symbiotic bacteria, they typically prefer poor soils, by virtue of being able to supply themselves.

Ideally sweet peas should be blooming by May in your area...no matter when that means you have to get them growing. In some locations, they're treated as winter annuals.

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus) are heavy feeders that seem to particularly like well-rotted manure: mulching is also beneficial.

Thank You all for the good information. I was definitely planting them too late (end of May). I will try again this season.

My sweet peas always thrived, and I had terrible soil! It was rocky and not amended, at the edge of the road. Sounds like too much of a good thing could very well be your problem? They really do like it cold, so plant them out pretty early. I pushed the boundaries when I had sweet peas, planting them a good two or three weeks before the last thaw (zone 6B/7A, so around the end of March). They were six or so inches tall by the time I planted them. Best of luck!

Thanks rob333.

Agree with all these comments.

1. Plant early. (They like it cool)
2. Don't under or over fertilize. Use common sense.
3. Water well during dry weather.
4. Make sure they have plenty of sun.

Plant early, but make sure your soil isn't too soggy,
Otherwise they will rot.

Ensure your seed isn't for a dwarf variety

Also, it can help to pinch out the growing tips when the seedlings are about 3-4 inches tall, to encourage branching and more flowers (assuming you are not growing to exhibit)
If they stop blooming during the heat of the summer, they may begin again in fall if you keep them deadheaded and prevent pods from forming

Any reccomendations on a very early good scented variety for cutting????

I also had the comment about making sure they aren't a dwarf variety. There are climbing types, which can look like a typical vining plant, as well as potted types that aren't very tall.

Other than that, you probably already got the right idea from others, that you also may need to plant them earlier. Even as small seedlings, they don't mind some of the cooler temperatures that we normally think we want to protect seedlings and plants from. That was the thinking I had to overcome to get some good growth before the temperatures got too warm for them.

I am in zone 6b and need to start my sweet peas in pots inside. When do you think I should plant them? I always wait too long and they die from heat. Also, how do you keep the rabbits off the young plants? Thanks!!!

Ken, I got it right away, and it made perfect sense. LadyRose, I struggle with sweet peas and it really is a source of disappointment for me. So I understand your frustration. I decided to pick a spot for them as If I were planting clematis, so I looked for cool soil, and yet pretty strong sun. Good luck.