Autumn Sown Sweet Peas

[Digeroo]

I have just put some in.  I would very much appreciate advice about how to keep them through the winter.

[Digeroo]

[David K]

I have just put some in.  I would very much appreciate advice about how to keep them through the winter.

Hi, Digeroo

Sweet peas are extremely hardy and are best kept in an open coldframe over winter. Maybe if temperatures reach -10 you may then consider closing the frame & throwing a piece of old carpet (or similar) over it.

I would add that single biggest reason for failure is coddling them.

[Chrispy]

Can I tag a question on.....
If I collect some seeds from this years plants, can I sow them straight away?

[grannyjanny]

Do Autumn sown ones need chitting or soaking?

[David K]

Can I tag a question on.....
If I collect some seeds from this years plants, can I sow them straight away?

Yes, providing they are ripe.

[David K]

Do Autumn sown ones need chitting or soaking?

Not at all!

[manicscousers]

Just sowed 35 pots of our saved from this years seed  ;D

[grannyjanny]

Thank you David ;D.

[elvis2003]

just been discussing this with OH,is there a real reason for autumn sowing or is it done just because we can?

[grannyjanny]

I think they make stronger plants sown in the Autumn.

[elvis2003]

thanks GJ

[Digeroo]

Many thanks for the replies and the extra questions.  I normally sow in Feb, so though I would try some now.  Got some in Wyevale 50p so not so worried if I murder them.

35 pots is a huge number manics.   How many to a pot?  I think I will hove down to the garden centre to get some recycled pots.  What size are best?

[manicscousers]

Ours are 3 to a pot, digeroo, they're for the plant sale next year, we get some early blooms and stronger plants for it. They get planted out into morrisons black buckets, 3 lots with canes in. I use rootrainers but also, we have toilet roll inners and used polystyrene cups  :)

[Digeroo]

Do they get eaten by voles, mice and slugs etc.  Our local garden centre have a help yourself pot recycling bin, so they are not an issue.

Perhaps I should cover the pots with plastic bottles like I do for eating peas.

[garrett]

I sowed some yesterday as I want to try autumn sowing for the first time. I'm going to sow the rest of the packet in spring and then compare the plants in summer and see what difference it makes.

[Aden Roller]

My dad always sowed sweet peas in the autumn and his plants were tough and sturdy. For some reason I've always left mine to the spring then found they are hit and miss for germination and can become quite thin and leggy until planted out so.........

ASP I'm going to have a go at autumn sowing too.

[elvis2003]

I just set some seed from seeds i collected from this year so lets see .................

[lavenderlux]

I Autumn sow my sweet peas and have just sown some of this year's harvest, I had some of T&M's new blue ballerina ones this year and they were fantastic - I soaked seeds first and them germinated them on damp kitchen roll before sowing.   I cut off the first initial growing shoot when the second is about an inch long, as this ones makes a sturdier shoot to grow. 
I don't find mice or voles to be a problem.

[Digeroo]

I don't find mice or voles to be a problem.

But is this because you do not have voles and mice.  I am finding voles an ever increasing problem.  I had never seen one five years ago and now they are everywhere.

[manicscousers]

60% of mine are showing  ;D