Author Topic: Sweet peas (Read 4096 times)

laurieuk · « **on:** October 06, 2012, 10:08:01 »

Just my my sweet pea seed, only just in time as I sow on the 8th October each year. Due to badgers and deer this year I had almost a complete failure but I am going to try again. Having lost my greenhouse etc. when we had to move from tied house I have bought a glass frame in the hopes of better results this year.

peanuts · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2012, 10:38:39 »

Laurieuk - I've just been given a packet of nice scented sweet peas for my birthday (Statesmen mixed, a blend of America and Senator). I can't get them in by 8th Oct now, but I could sow them in the next few days indoors in a propagator. i haven't grown them for years and years, so really want to succeed with these ones. I'm wondering whether there are any real advantages of sowing them now, and having to overwinter them, without a cold frame . . . . . . . . or would it be easier to get them going in the spring? Any advice very welcome, please.

laurieuk · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2012, 20:26:53 »

I never use a propagator has they do not like too much heat. The main advantage of sowing now is that you get a wonderful root system to start them going in the spring. The plants themselves are hardy but the roots need to be kept free from frost, if they stand in pots above the ground the roots can freeze through the pot, so as long as the pots are plunged the plants should be alright. I know many leave it to the spring before sowing but when I tried I did not get such good results.

Morris · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2012, 23:31:42 »

I've tried autumn sowing, spring sowing, and late winter. For me, I find that a Jan/Feb sowing in an unheated greenhouse (but started on an electric propagator mat - edit only gentle heat and not covered) gives the strongest plants and longest flowering. I plant out in March/April, depending on weather.

raisedbedted · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2012, 09:57:47 »

I'm not sure why but the advice I was given by Sweet Pea specialists 'Eagle Sweet Peas' was that if youre in the south then sow in October, if youre in the North of the UK then later or in early spring. And, as Laurie says, the key is to keep them hard, not too much heat, in cold frames rather than warm greenhouses, mainly to avoid excessive wet.

I've been doing this for the last 3 years and the plants are so much stronger than when I sow in Spring, with flowers through from end May until now. I draw the line at growing them up sticks, then laying them down and then growing them back up - lifes too short!

laurieuk · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2012, 10:28:18 »

Some years ago the sweet pea society did a survey of when people sowed their seed and for this area SE October 8th got most votes. I have grown ever since I was a garden boy in 1948 and just make it my way but we all have our own ways. I do have many sweetpea medals and trophies won over the years.

antipodes · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2012, 11:20:26 »

I had no idea they could overwinter??? This year was my first go, sown in spring, same time as the peas. Only a few made it (lovely purple flowers) but my main aim was to get the seed, and I was able to save a good handful of hard black seed which will save me some money!
So maybe I should sow a couple now and see what happens? Or will this saved seed not work again straight away?

Morris · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2012, 13:29:59 »

I'm sure one of the reasons Jan/Feb works best for me is that I'm not much interested in the garden between Oct and Dec. The summer is over, the nights so long, I am always very busy with birthdays and Christmas. So perhaps I don't give them the attention they need, checking correct watering etc, whereas as soon as Christmas is over, I am raring to sow something!

Laurie, I am sure your plants are far superior to mine! As you say, it is a question of finding, through experience and trial, what works for you and your garden.

peanuts · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2012, 15:14:26 »

Now I don't know what to do! The packet actually says if starting off in autumn, to use a propagator. But advice here is not to use heat.
I will have more of a problem in keeping them in a good state over the winter, as if we are away, the shutters are shut and the house is dark!
So I might be better starting them off early Jan. I could do some of each I suppose.

laurieuk · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2012, 19:48:33 »

Sorry to give you a problem but all I cansay is what I do, many do leave it until the spring and are happy with the results. Gardening cannot be done by the book as all our gardens are different and we all want different things. A few years back our son was getting married and wanted my wife to do all the flowers, mainly with certain color sweet peas., mine start to flower about 22 nd May and their wedding was August 8th. It meant an awful lot of work layering twice to keep them flowering that long but it was successful so all worth while.

Quote from: Peanuts on October 10, 2012, 15:14:26

Now I don't know what to do! The packet actually says if starting off in autumn, to use a propagator. But advice here is not to use heat.
I will have more of a problem in keeping them in a good state over the winter, as if we are away, the shutters are shut and the house is dark!
So I might be better starting them off early Jan. I could do some of each I suppose.

Jayb · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2012, 19:53:56 »

Glad I've read this, I hadn't given sowing sweet peas a thought, despite I still have some flowering in the poly-tunnel. cheers

peanuts · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2012, 20:06:05 »

Right, I've decided to sow some tomorrow, and some in January, and we'll see which do best! There are supposedly 25 seeds in the packet, so I've enough to play with. The instructions do clearly say to germinate in a propagator, in temps of 20-25º. At the moment our house is still reasonably warm, but come January, it certainly won't be near that temperature, more like 16-17º if we are lucky. I could always try one pot in the propagator and one out, each time!

raisedbedted · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2012, 09:51:07 »

I germinated mine in the greenhouse over the last couple of weeks, no bottom heat, out of 20 seeds in each packet I got at least 19 seedlings. In another month or so they will go outside to a sheltered area, just covering them if its very wet / snow. If I tried to keep them in the greenhouse / indoors all over winter they would be drawn and lanky and no good - the idea is to get good root growth without too much top growth so that come March when they go out (yes March even in the cold), they romp away.

I have too many other things to sow in the spring to be handling 175 pots of sweet pea seedlings!

manicscousers · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2012, 18:28:52 »

We'll be starting the plant sale sweet peas next week, in old drinks cups in the cold greenhouse, always seems to work, even in the coldest winters. When it really froze, I threw some fleece over

claybasket · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2012, 08:37:50 »

Ive got a problem ,I planted my sweetpeas middle of September as instructed they are now romping away they are in a cold greenhouse ,they may be streaching a bit ,Help please ,should I put them in the cold frame?

raisedbedted · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2012, 09:34:40 »

Quote from: claybasket on October 12, 2012, 08:37:50

Ive got a problem ,I planted my sweetpeas middle of September as instructed they are now romping away they are in a cold greenhouse ,they may be streaching a bit ,Help please ,should I put them in the cold frame?

Yes I would, and I would maybe trim them down to about 4 pairs of leaves at the same time, so maybe 5" high. Otherwise come spring you will have long drawn spaghetti balls of sweet peas with poor root balls.

gwynnethmary · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:18:04 »

Did anyone see Monty Don with his sweet pea trial results? It seems he got a lot more flowers from a spring sowing, but earlier ones from an autumn sowing. Maybe the answer is a bit of both so that you get lots of flowers for longer....

raisedbedted · « **Reply #17 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:34:35 »

Quote from: gwynnethmary on October 12, 2012, 10:18:04

Did anyone see Monty Don with his sweet pea trial results? It seems he got a lot more flowers from a spring sowing, but earlier ones from an autumn sowing. Maybe the answer is a bit of both so that you get lots of flowers for longer....

I thought I'd try that this year with a couple of packs of Mixed Spencers in the Spring, that said I am still picking flowers from plants sown last autumn, although I think this is in part due to the cooler wetter summer this year.

Digeroo · « **Reply #18 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:37:29 »

A local sweetpea expert told me about this time last year that he had just sown his. So I rushed home and sowed mine. It was the October new moon 26th.

They were brilliant. I liked the early flowers, there are so many other things later on and competition for space on the windowsill. I left them all winter by the bottom of the water butt, covered them with clear plastic when it was very cold, though it blew off several times. They did brilliantly. Put about five seeds to a pot, and then planted the pots into the soil in March. They also provided a wind barrier for some courgettes.

Intending to sow next Monday.

Morris · « **Reply #19 on:** October 12, 2012, 12:56:57 »

Quote from: gwynnethmary on October 12, 2012, 10:18:04

Did anyone see Monty Don with his sweet pea trial results? It seems he got a lot more flowers from a spring sowing, but earlier ones from an autumn sowing. Maybe the answer is a bit of both so that you get lots of flowers for longer....

That's the reason I prefer a Jan/Feb sowing, they flower reasonably early, but last all summer. I'm still picking mine now as well. I wonder if it makes less difference if they're not cordon trained, which I never bother with?

However - my fingers are itchy. Maybe I'll try sowing some now; haven't done autumn sowing for quite a few years. Hmmm...

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Author Topic: Sweet peas (Read 4096 times)