When to Pinch Sweet Peas?

To pinch sweet pea plants, wait until they are 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20.5 cm.) high. Take the growing tip between your forefinger and thumbnail and snip the growing tip off using your nail as your blade. Pinching out sweet peas will force the plant hormones called auxins to move to the side or auxiliary tips.

How many times should you pinch out sweet peas?

When there are three or four pairs of leaves, pinch out the leaders – just squeeze off the growing tip between your finger and thumb.

Do you pinch out the top of sweet peas?

As your seedlings grow they'll start to become tall and leggy. Encourage them to produce side shoots by pinching out the tips of the plant. Simply nip off the top of the stem with your fingers, just above a set of leaves. This will make each plant much bushier and more robust.