Allotments 4 All
Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: CotswoldLass on July 20, 2004, 21:03:47
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This season I've got these colourful, fragrant wonders in various places all round the garden! Indoors I've got them in every room, filling the house with gorgeous scent.
I simply ADORE Sweet Peas!
CLx
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I'm with you there C/Lass - love them in the house as well better than any air freshener! Mine didn't do very well last year but this year they are great so far - and they were cheapie packets from a bargain store....
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I agree - the smell is divine, and they look so gorgeous too! I actually think they are one of the few flowers that looks better picked - I generally prefer flowers growing, as it were. I didn't grow many this year, just a few in the front garden, and smaller varieties in my hanging baskets. All from seed. The smaller varieties aren't that good for picking though because the stems are so short!
Went to the Wem sweetpea show at the weekend and it was simply gorgeous. So many colours and varieties. And the scent of the whole room....... Ahhhhhh!
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Is there a way to extend their life once cut? Ours die within a couple of days of cutting just left in water.
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Sweet Peas are my favourite flower too. I just love their delicate pastel colour, and their sweet gentle fragrance. Know what you mean about them not lasting long though. Only thing I have heard, is that you can put a 1/2 spoonful of sugar in the vase water to extend a flower's life. :) busy_lizzie
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Thanks Lizzie, I'm going to try that. I'd been searching for tips but not come up with anything.
Cut loads of SP's yesterday, and lo and behold - loads more today!
In the course of searching for tips came across this interesting list " The language of Flowers"
http://www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/flowerlanguage.html
When we take Sweet Peas to friends it means ' thanks for having us' ...sweet!
CLx
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agree with everyone on this-love sweet peas, particularly with strong scent. Don't see the point of scent-less!
Any particular favourites?
Mine are cupani/matucana, sat out in garden yesterday and the smell was lovely, wafting over from the wigwams. :)
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Some of my faves were bought from our local garage (a fave source of plants) but I still have the seed packets from the ones I grew myself, so will have a look and let you know.....
Did you grow yours from seed Kerry?
CLx ;)
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hi CL :)
yes, grown from seed. Bought the cupani seed half price at the end of last summer, along with the white supreme! Bargain!
The other sweet pea I grow, is 'sativus azureus' which I saved some seed from last year, and am pretty chuffed that they came up this year, it is the most amazing true bright blue, very dainty flower, alas breaking my 'must be scented' rule. Am planning to save more seed this year. :)
ps. does anyone here growing from seed sow autumn to overwinter? I sow mine in spring, but would be interested to know if anyone has found a difference.
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I bought a very pretty bush sweet pea last year - two tone pink and grew it in a pot. Saved the seeds and am pleased to say it has come true to colour again this year giving me a lovely sweet scented display.
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Hi all!
Just picked some more and am trying the sugar in water trick. Kerry I've always spring sown and I bought some as young plants but I think I will over winter some this year. Mate does and hers are always ahead.
Know I won't be able to resist buying little pots from the garage though (at 99p for a pot of about 10 they were great value anyway and have really come up trumps!)
CLX ;)
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Yes, sweet peas are fab.
Kerry - I sowed mine towards the end of last year and I think it made a difference. My plants have been much better than the last two years and started flowering earlier. Of course, perhaps I was lucky with the variety this year - a good mix called 'Fragrantissma' (a good blend apart from a rather jarring salmon-orange) and the weather which has been wetter than usual.
The thing I'm not sure about though is what to do when they reach the top of the wigwam. That's when the wind gets them here and the unsupported bit falls over! I do keep tying in but it does look a bit congested after a while.
Cheers, Iain
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Just cut 'em off, Iain. It will also encourge extra side shoots. I still have three large jars of seeds from last years crop. I'm in the habit of tossing over garden walls. Naughty, but nice when I see a result later!
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I'll do that Ken and look forward to more flowers off the side shoots. Nothing naughty surely about a bit of generous broadcast sowing - your neighbourhood must look good at sweet pea time!
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I am very jealous of you all, my sparrows have nipped all the buds of mine....have been cultivating them since September! :'(
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;D Thanks for language of flowers site Cotswold Lass, I've added it to my favorites, I've been wanting to know for ages what individual flowers mean, its great. 8)
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Ah DP, that's a shame. Can you not cut the stems as if they had been picked and see if more buds come (perhaps net from the birds?). No expert but an idea.....CLx
Val, it's sweet isn't it, I thought could be useful for birthdays and 'flower messages' CLx
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I had a HUGE bunch of sweet peas delivered to me today from my farmer friend, he had heard I was a tad upset about mine!!! They
are beautiful! Thanks CL for your advice x x ,but they are growing (hahahaha) up a pyramid affair and would be hard to net, next year they are going on the plot!
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Hi Ross,
To extend a flower's life after you cut them put a drop of lemonade or sparling water in the vase it'll keep the flowers last a lot long.
Yuet
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My everlasting (unscented) SPs made a terrific show over an archway this year, but the seed pods have all been 'invaded'. Nearly every pod has a tiny hole in it and the seeds have all been chewed by something. Any ideas what pest this could be?
Sorry - have just seen the new pest section which was added while I was on holiday.
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Regarding making the flowers last, cut them all at 45degrees and put them as far up the stem as possible into cold water for at least an hour then transfer to your vases for display this works for all flowers.
the cutting being important!!!!. Hope this helps peeps.
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definately makes a difference, sowing in the autumn. The flowers are usually much earlier and sturdier. I sow mine around end of September and I leave them out in a sheltered space outside all winter. If it looked like being especially vicious, may bung a bit of fleece over them. I nip them out a number of times so that by April, they are really sturdy bushy plants. They seem more resistant to mildew although they do go over by August. I do tend to snip the side shoots and tendrils too as the tendrils always cause the stems to get distorted. Not exactly a cordon method but a halfway house between just letting them ramble about. Of yeah, the reds and deep pinks always seem to go over first with shorter and shorter stems and smaller flowers so now I tend to go for blues, lavenders and cream colours.
and i agree, what is a sweet pea without scent?
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Hi all..interesting thread,I am soon to be sowing sweet peas for next year,this year,s crop were very nice but had only short stems,I am looking for a variety,well scented ,multicolour,and long stemmed.Perhaps someone can help :)......Alan
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;DKnow what you mean Alan, sorry can't help with the variety, there's lots here who will, but I'm fed up with getting smaller vases, good job the seasons nearly finished, I'm running out of egg-cups. ::)
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I have just set mine off for next year and they are already 2" high, will post a pic when i'm next down the allotment to show you. I set them off at this time of year and I have always had long stems, dont know if it helps but why reinvent the wheel.
Peter