Sweet Peas

Hello

I planted sweet peas in a container in early November from seed. I soaked the seeds for about 24 hours before planting. They have only grown a couple of inches and I thought that by now I would have nice fragrant blooms! The growth is kind of yellowish too...not as green as I think it should be. This is the 2nd time I've attempted to grow these and have used both the vine type and the bushy type. Never had any success. What am I doing wrong? I am in San Diego and we have had a fairly normal weather pattern. Would appreciate any thoughts on this. Thank you!

Hello,
There are some unanswered questions. What size pot? What kind of soil? Indoors or outside? Sun or shade? Plant food, and what kind?
If you want to grow sweet peas in pots, I think they should be at least 12" in diameter, 14" or larger even better. It is just easier.
If you are growing in pots I would use a good POTTING MIX you buy in a bag. (it should be strile, gets rid of weed seed and other nasty things, like bugs in the mix) Check to see if the mix has any plant food already in it. If not, mix about 2 to 3 tablespoons of a good 'orgainc' rose or veggie food in, per pot. Mix it all up really well. (most 'garden soils' in our area are really not good for most potted plants)
Fill the pot to near the top, put the seed in only about 1/4" deep. If you soak the seed for about 24 hours, that is fine, just not much longer. 'Firm' the soil above the seed and give the pot a good watering, so a little water comes out of the bottom.
If you are near the coast put it outdoors in the sun. If you are a little inland, start with part shade. After about 14 to 20 days the plants should be about 3" tall and looking pretty green. Move them to full sun. (these are not good indoor plants at all)
You should check the soil for moisture about every 2 to 3 days, water when it feels a little dry. Do not keep the pots wet. Water as needed, probably 2 to 3 times a week, it depends on the temp and humidity. (supposed to be 80 degrees Sunday in San Diego) You will have to water more freequently when it is warm, less when cooler.
After they are up about 3" or so, you should also feed with a liquid plant food mixed in the water. Liquid Fish works fine. There are other liquid plant foods, choose a lower nitrogen formula. Mark in on your calendar, feed every 14 days.
If you follow this you should have nice sweet peas, probably blooming in about 6 to 8 weeks. Two weeks after you plant the first pots, plant some more, so they start to bloom just a little later, as the first pots start to fade.
If you are growing in pots you should use the dwarf or bush type Sweet Peas, the climbers get too gangly, not pretty at all, in pots.