Q=are we too late to sow sweet peas to give them a growing start for next season? I'm asking on behalf of a member here who lives on the east coast & who has a g/house.....thing is, I have the seeds for her & haven't got them in the post yet :-[
Lishka
I'd sow them in October if I was going to grow them over winter but it's milder here than on the east coast. But my guess is that they will be fine in a greenhouse. Here's what the the RHS have to say:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1100/sweet_peas.asp
G x
it should be fine if you put them in a green house,
i sowed mine a fortnight ago and just put them in a coldframe, some are starting to show through the compost now ;D ;D
Many thanks both....Buds, you reading this? Promise I'll get the seeds in the post 1st thing tomorrow....1st Class :)
Me, I'll be sowing mine early spring....they seem to catch up OK... :-\
I started some off a few weeks ago in the greenhouse, and they are doing extreamly well. I placed a plastic lid on them to keep them moist due to the condensation.
I sowed some 10days ago and they are showing through., they were own saved seed. I also sowed some few days ago which Mary kindly sent me (Grandma's seed)
and I am sure they will be OK. They are in a cold greenhouse.
If sweet pea are sown in October they need to be kept very cool overwinter to stop the plants getting too leggy. Mine were sown last weekend in the GH. As soon as they are about half an inch tall the pots will be put into a cold frame. No top is put on the frame and they are left exposed to all the winter elements. They are very hardy. The pots are embedded in peat or used compost as protection for the . I might cover the frame if heavy snow is forecast just to stop the plants being crushed. The plants are transplanted into their flowering position in March/April. This has worked for at least 20 years.
Thanks for the good information. I am going to sow in the Autumn & spring just to see the difference. ;D
By default some seeds are left behind on the lottie after pulling up the plants ,they germinate unprotected where they fell ,these are are by far the best plants. Wouldn,t manage it by design though.
Sowed mine last weekend- thanks shirlton! :D
Mine are in too - about a week ago :)
Havent sown them in autumn before, so this is all trial and error for me.
The first few have germinated! :D Just hope they don't get eaten by any nasties!
Most of ours have germinated ;D
mine all rotted :'( don't know why, they were in the greenhouse with only the initial watering when i sowed them. will resow today hopefully second time lucky :-\.
I also planted mine about 10 days ago and they are nearly all through now. Started off on a cold greenhouse but will transfer to the cold frame when they get about an inch or two tall. Have kept some spare seeds in case of disaster and will plant in the spring. Finger crossed.
Ellie 2 Cats
Hi all,
Never having grown these before is it too late to start them now in a cold greenhouse?
Jon
I don't think so.
I am going to sow mine this weekend. :)
Me too but they're overwintering in the unheated (unless I have guests) spare room.