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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: Moggle on July 14, 2004, 16:55:25

Title: Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Moggle on July 14, 2004, 16:55:25

Is it worth doing with Petunias and Sweet Peas? Will I get more flowers if I do it?

Thanks all

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Doris_Pinks on July 14, 2004, 16:58:15

Yes is the answer Moggle!
Have to say my sweet peas are pretty poor...think the sparrows are nipping the buds off! >:(

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Kerry on July 14, 2004, 18:05:10

don't know about petunias, moggle but "yes definitely" to sweet peas.
When it has set seed, which is its ultimate aim, it signals the end of the plants life. Removng the ripening seeds 'tricks' it into trying to produce more, hence more flowers!
You can leave a few pods on to ripen at the end of the season if you save your own seed for next year, as I do. :)

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Plocket on July 14, 2004, 18:47:13

Yes to sweet peas and petunias - particularly trailing ones because it will make the strands longer as well!

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Muddy_Boots on July 14, 2004, 19:34:57

Dead heading is ace!  Petunias, begonias, buzzies, roses, everything - really does prolong flowering time and does plants good!  :D

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Moggle on July 16, 2004, 10:40:23

Thanks for the advice all, I will get out there with my scissors tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip Kerry about saving seed, hadn't even thought of doing that before  :)

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: aquilegia on July 16, 2004, 10:47:07

I dead head all annuals (apart from things like poppies that i want to self seed).

Don't forget, though, if you're collecting seeds, hybrids won't come true from seed.

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Moggle on July 16, 2004, 11:43:01

Thanks Aqui, I'll check the pack they came from when I get home, can't really remember what they were.

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Muddy_Boots on July 16, 2004, 14:49:00

No scissors needed for petunias, buizzies or begonias, just pull the dead flowers off!

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: aquilegia on July 16, 2004, 14:50:20

I did petunias last year and found they left a really sticky residue on my hands when I deadheaded without seceteurs.

Title: Re:Dead Heading Petunias and Sweet Peas
Post by: Moggle on July 16, 2004, 15:11:13

And the scissors give me a bit of extra reach for the ones that spill over the side of the balcony. I really should take a photo while they are all flowering.