If you go into a gardening store and ask for help in growing sweet peas, you'll probably be asked to clarify what kind of plant you want. Green peas are sometimes referred to as sweet peas because of their pleasing taste. However, sweet peas might also refer to a fragrant flower whose seeds look like peas.

As the scientific name of Lathyrus odoratus suggests, the aroma is one of the most distinctive characteristics of sweet peas. The Old Farmer's Almanac says the original variety, native to Sicily, has a scent similar to that of honey, jasmine, and orange.

Sweet peas are usually grown as annuals, but the English seed company Thompson & Morgan says perennial varieties are also available. However, these are less fragrant than the annual flowers.

The gardening company Burpee says sweet peas use tendrils to climb their way up fences and trellises, creating an interesting display in these areas. The plant can also be used for bordering or cut for an indoor bouquet. Sweet peas come in every color except yellow, and include striped or mottled varieties.

There are varying recommendations on when to sow sweet peas. The Texas Cooperative Extension at Texas A&M University says colder regions like the Northeast and Midwest usually start the plant indoors in late winter and transplant it to the garden after the last frost. More temperate regions can sow seeds outdoors after August for winter growth.

Thompson & Morgan says one compromise for sowing sweet peas late in the season is to start them in containers before transplanting them to a cool indoor location. Burpee says about 50 days of temperatures below 60 degrees will lead to the best blooms. If you prefer to wait until the spring to grow the flowers outside, the seeds can be planted as soon as the soil is thawed and workable.

Sweet peas have somewhat tricky light requirements. The Old Farmer's Almanac says they will grow best when the top of the plant is in the sun and the roots are shaded. Growing them amid shorter plants can help shelter the soil from the sunlight.

The soil should have good drainage and be slightly alkaline. Growing conditions can be improved by amending the soil with compost or organic matter to a depth of about two feet.

The Texas Cooperative Extension says seeds should be planted in holes that are about two inches deep and four to six inches apart. The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests making a trench about four inches deep and adding holes with a pencil as part of the planting process. This trench should be gradually filled in as the seedlings grow.

One strategy to speed along the germination is to soak the seeds for 24 hours. You can also nick the seed coat with nail clippers to allow the seed to hydrate faster.

Watering should take place regularly to keep the soil moist. Thompson & Morgan says seedlings can become leggy as they grow taller, so you can encourage new growth by pinching the tips and clipping off the stem above the leaves.

The Texas Cooperative Extension says sweet peas should be kept in a cool, dark place when started indoors. Once shoots emerge, they should be moved to a cool location with better light.

Sweet peas can be grown in warmer conditions, but they will be less likely to survive when transplanted outdoors. This relocation may require a hardening off period of a week or so to be successful.

Too much fertilizer will harm rather than help the plant, leaving it heavy on foliage but light on flowers. A balanced fertilizer applied at the time seeds are planted can have a beneficial effect.

Keep an eye out for slugs as the plant grows. Sweet peas can also be affected by diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, and root rot.

Once the plant is in bloom, faded or dead flowers should be removed regularly to encourage the growth of new flowers. New growth will also result from the removal of fresh flowers, so you'll be able to promote new blooms by cutting stems for indoor displays.