Lathyrus

The genus Lathyrus includes over 100 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The flowers have a characteristic moth corolla (with a "boat", "sail" and two "oars"). Of the annual species in floriculture, the fragrant rank, or sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), is extremely popular. Its numerous varieties and hybrids differ in height, number of flowers in a brush, flowering time and are combined into garden groups. These are climbing plants up to 2-3 m high, clinging to the support with the tendrils of the stem. Fragrant, 3-6 cm in diameter flowers - in a racemose inflorescence, the length of which reaches 50 cm in some varieties. Sweet peas are characterized by an extraordinary variety of colors and shades of flowers, fragrant in the botanical species and without fragrance - in most hybrids. No only pure yellow tones. The most famous garden groups are: Galaxy, Precox, Spencer, Bijou, Jet Set and others. The tall variety 'Ramona' is distinguished by bright orange flowers; 'Remembrance' - red. Among the dwarf varieties of the Little Sweethat group are distinguished by bright selected colors, the height of the stems is 20-30 cm, they are suitable for growing in a pot. 'Color Kapet' - a mixture of varieties of various colors with a height of 20-30 cm, they are usually grown in rock gardens. Some varieties are two-tone, such as ' Antique Fantasy '(intense pink and red color) and 'Superstar' (white and red). Chyna tinginatus (L. tinginatus) is a 2 m tall species with narrow lanceolate leaves and bicolored, purple and red flowers that bloom in June-July. Perennial species include the following. Large-flowered rank (L. grandiftorus), growing up to 2 m high, with egg-shaped leaves and purple flowers blooming in spring and summer. Tuberous rank (L. tuberosus) - a species up to 120 cm high. Peduncles are tetrahedral in cross-section with complex leaves; pink bell-shaped flowers are collected in brushes. Spring rank (L. vernus ) is a root-springing species with a height of 40-60 cm. Compound leaves consist of 2-3 pairs of lanceolate glossy leaflets. Lilac-purple flowers, collected in a brush, bloom in spring.

The genus Lathyrus includes over 100 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The flowers have a characteristic moth corolla (with a "boat", "sail" and two "oars").

Of the annual species in floriculture, the fragrant rank, or sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), is extremely popular. Its numerous varieties and hybrids differ in height, number of flowers in a brush, flowering time and are combined into garden groups. These are climbing plants up to 2-3 m high, clinging to the support with the tendrils of the stem. Fragrant, 3-6 cm in diameter flowers - in a racemose inflorescence, the length of which reaches 50 cm in some varieties. Sweet peas are characterized by an extraordinary variety of colors and shades of flowers, fragrant in the botanical species and without fragrance - in most hybrids. No only pure yellow tones. The most famous garden groups are: Galaxy, Precox, Spencer, Bijou, Jet Set and others. The tall variety 'Ramona' is distinguished by bright orange flowers; 'Remembrance' - red. Among the dwarf varieties of the Little Sweethat group are distinguished by bright selected colors, the height of the stems is 20-30 cm, they are suitable for growing in a pot. 'Color Kapet' - a mixture of varieties of various colors with a height of 20-30 cm, they are usually grown in rock gardens. Some varieties are two-tone, such as ' Antique Fantasy '(intense pink and red color) and 'Superstar' (white and red).

Chyna tinginatus (L. tinginatus) is a 2 m tall species with narrow lanceolate leaves and bicolored, purple and red flowers that bloom in June-July.

Perennial species include the following.

Large-flowered rank (L. grandiftorus), growing up to 2 m high, with egg-shaped leaves and purple flowers blooming in spring and summer.

Tuberous rank (L. tuberosus) - a species up to 120 cm high. Peduncles are tetrahedral in cross-section with complex leaves; pink bell-shaped flowers are collected in brushes.

Spring rank (L. vernus ) is a root-springing species with a height of 40-60 cm. Compound leaves consist of 2-3 pairs of lanceolate glossy leaflets. Lilac-purple flowers, collected in a brush, bloom in spring.

Cultivation

They are used in gardens as a climbing plant for vertical gardening, including windows, balconies, gazebos; as cutting flowers; as well as for decorating tents, mixborders, pot culture (low-growing varieties). Sweet peas and spring chyna are also suitable for rock gardens. The soil for planting is loose, non-acidic, fertile, moderately moist. During the growing season, they are fed with phosphorous-potash fertilizers. When growing in a pot, use a mixture made up of peat and fertile land (1:1) with the addition of a complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 30-40 g per bucket of soil. Before the beginning of the budding phase, plants must be tied to trellises or pegs. In autumn, perennial species cut off the stems with the formed beans. Plants do not tolerate transplanting, so the pots are not changed; if necessary, soil is added to them.

Location

Sweet peas are planted in a sunny place - the plant is light-loving.

Temperature

Sweet peas are a relatively cold-resistant crop.

Watering

In spring and summer, water regularly, maintaining moderate soil moisture.

Care

Remove faded inflorescences and damaged parts of plants.

Reproduction

Propagate by seed through seedlings or directly into the ground. In some varieties, the seeds are covered with a thick film, so they are cut or soaked in water for about 12-14 hours, and then germinated until the first roots appear. Seedlings (sown in March-April) are grown in pots, as plants do not like transplanting. Seeds are planted at the end of May at a distance of 20-40 cm from each other (depending on the variety). Sweet peas are grown for cutting in greenhouses in spring and autumn; usually all side shoots are removed.

Diseases

The plant is susceptible to infection with various viruses carried by aphids and causing yellow mosaic on the leaves and stripes on the flowers, not to mention necrotic spots, and leading to death. Treat the remaining unaffected plants with anti-aphid preparations. False powdery mildew of grapes (Peronospora viciae) leads to the formation of yellowish spots on the upper side of the leaves and the appearance of whitish mold on the reverse. They get rid of it with the help of tsineb or maneb. Powdery mildew on all green organs (oidium) is eliminated by treating with preparations containing dinocap or bitertanol. Yellow-brown spots with a reddish border appear due to fungi of the genus Aschochyta. They get rid of them with the help of drugs based on tiram or mancoceb. The fungus Thielaviopsis basicola, which affects the root system, leads to the formation of brown rot with simultaneous wilting of the plant. Infection can be prevented by avoiding stagnation of water and disinfecting the soil with preparations based on maneba and tsineba. Leaf and petal damage caused by the appearance of the Sitonia tibialis beetle can be limited by treating it with appropriate insecticides.

Varieties Many varieties of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), the most common and beloved species, are divided into 16 garden groups according to the height of the main stem, flowering time and the number of flowers in the brush. Among them are known such as Kazbertson Floribunda (plant height 2.5 m, flowering in late May), Multiflora Gigantea (height 2 m, flowering in April) and Spencer (height 2-3 m, flowering in May). Today, this classification is used less and less often due to the endless appearance of new varieties and hybrids, which are not so easy to divide into groups by properties. Flowers of numerous varieties and hybrids of sweet peas are painted in a variety of colors: from white to red (with all shades of pink), blue and purple. For example, white flowers in the variety 'Elegance'. Pink and red are in 'Lucy', 'Kiri Te Kanawa', 'Epicot Sprite', 'Bandaid', 'Katherine' and 'Felicity Candel'. Purple-blue varieties are characterized by: 'Esther Ranson', 'North Shore' and 'Blue Danub'. There are also varieties of "Special Mix", which have flowers of different shades on the same plant.

Varieties

Many varieties of sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), the most common and beloved species, are divided into 16 garden groups according to the height of the main stem, flowering time and the number of flowers in the brush. Among them are known such as Kazbertson Floribunda (plant height 2.5 m, flowering in late May), Multiflora Gigantea (height 2 m, flowering in April) and Spencer (height 2-3 m, flowering in May).

Today, this classification is used less and less often due to the endless appearance of new varieties and hybrids, which are not so easy to divide into groups by properties.

Flowers of numerous varieties and hybrids of sweet peas are painted in a variety of colors: from white to red (with all shades of pink), blue and purple. For example, white flowers in the variety 'Elegance'. Pink and red are in 'Lucy', 'Kiri Te Kanawa', 'Epicot Sprite', 'Bandaid', 'Katherine' and 'Felicity Candel'. Purple-blue varieties are characterized by: 'Esther Ranson', 'North Shore' and 'Blue Danub'. There are also varieties of "Special Mix", which have flowers of different shades on the same plant.