Allotments 4 All

Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: jimtheworzel on February 07, 2011, 14:05:50

Title: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: jimtheworzel on February 07, 2011, 14:05:50
hi every one
whats the latest date to sow my sweetpeas to flower in the summer?
aint got a greenhouse and poor light at home
got two large coldframes on the allotment

regards  Jim
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Amazingrotavator(Derby) on February 07, 2011, 15:40:41
My Mrs put hers in about a week ago in a propergator on the window sill.Just started coming up.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: manicscousers on February 07, 2011, 16:04:47
we started ours off in the cold greenhouse last week  :)
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: shirlton on February 07, 2011, 16:11:16
October is the best time for really strong plants but now is ok and even later. I lost all of my autumn sown ones and have just sown some more today
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: saddad on February 07, 2011, 16:17:40
We sowed ours on Saturday...  ;D
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Jitterbug on February 08, 2011, 18:58:29
Hi there

I normally start mine in Autumn but with the poor results due to last years bad winter decided not to start mine in Autumn.  Have planted mine out in empty loo rolls on Saturday and are now happily sitting on my bedrrom window sill.  Did the same thing with my broad beans.

Kind regards

Jitterbug
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: pigeonseed on February 08, 2011, 23:12:11
I usually sow mine indoors in spring, they flower mid-summer. This year I sowed them last week. (I think that makes sense  :-\ ;D)
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Alex133 on February 09, 2011, 16:48:14
Sowed mine today in very cold greenhouse.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Sparkly on February 09, 2011, 17:33:41
I did mine in Nov, but with all the freezing weather they were well and truely frozen in the greenhouse.Nothing showing as of yet. Might start some more as a backup as we want to put them on the tables at our wedding!
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: garrett on February 09, 2011, 19:28:51
I'm going to sow mine in (empty) loo rolls this weekend and save a bit of seed for direct sowing later in April. I know the autumn sown plants are meant to be better but I'd rather not risk getting them through winter. I usually get a good show as long as I keep up with the watering and picking.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: hartshay on February 09, 2011, 22:18:30
I now plant mine in heat Jan/Feb .  Once germinated it is on to a cold greenhouse and lots of light.  I have good bunches of flowers for show by the latter part of June
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Morris on February 18, 2011, 15:57:05
Quote from: Sparkly on February 09, 2011, 17:33:41
Might start some more as a backup as we want to put them on the tables at our wedding!

How lovely!  :)
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Debs on February 19, 2011, 09:38:48

thanks for the reminder - sweet pea seed sowing added to list of seeds-to-be-sown

this weekend

Debs
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Garden Manager on February 19, 2011, 12:08:42
I usualy get around to doing mine in mid march under glass. Planted out in may they are in flower by late june early july and go on into autumn, usualy fininshing in october. I could so earlier but an never organised enough in the greenhouse before the begining of march and there is always so much else to do around then. I also feel than if sown later they go on flowering later. Tried autumn sowing a couple of times and it was hopeless. Got far too leggy and weak over the winter to make good plants come the spring.

Ideally i should probably sucession sow from february onwards but as it is difficult enough to get organised for one sowing, 2 or more would be even worse!
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: laurieuk on February 21, 2011, 21:37:43
For very many  years I have sown my sweetpeas on October 8th to get good roots ready for early planting to have them in flower for the early shows; so this year I have 48 really first class plants each with 2 strong shoots, outside ready to plant but have lost our tied house and garden. In a matter of days we move to a flat with no garden  :'( it has been suggested I should have a window box  ;D I doubt my 8ft canes will look too good.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: lottie lou on February 21, 2011, 22:12:12
Your 8ft canes wuld look nice anywhere.  So sorry to hear that you eventually lost your house.  Do you have anywhere to grow things - containers in a courtyard or anything.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: laurieuk on February 21, 2011, 22:20:37
We will have a balcony where I can grow my begonias and some veg. in containers and I may in the future be able to get an allotment but none empty at the moment. I am not complaining we have had 25 wonderful years in this garden and as I am 80 in a few weeks maybe I had better retire or start taking it slower. ;D
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: kt. on February 21, 2011, 22:53:10
I sowed mine today; they are now in a propagator in my conservatory.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: lottie lou on February 21, 2011, 23:02:26
we have had 25 wonderful years in this garden and as I am 80 in a few weeks maybe I had better retire or start taking it slower.

So you are a good example of how well an outdoor life can do.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: Ninnyscrops. on February 21, 2011, 23:41:43
Laurie, just wished you lived nearer and you could share my plot! Mine were sown on 23rd October in the cold greenhouse, pinched out and now have side shoots nearly the same size as the pinched out shoots. A southern softy and still reluctant to plant them on the plot. Rose and Sweet Pea show on 15th June, never shown Sweet peas so any advice (apart from left and right blooms ;))?

Ninny
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: laurieuk on February 22, 2011, 07:30:49
Quote from: Ninnyscrops. on February 21, 2011, 23:41:43
Laurie, just wished you lived nearer and you could share my plot! Mine were sown on 23rd October in the cold greenhouse, pinched out and now have side shoots nearly the same size as the pinched out shoots. A southern softy and still reluctant to plant them on the plot. Rose and Sweet Pea show on 15th June, never shown Sweet peas so any advice (apart from left and right blooms ;))?

Ninny

I cut my blooms the day before and then check again on the day. I use foliage to cover top of vase. I display in full fan so judges can see all the blooms. Npt many people realise there are left and right blooms but it can make a bid difference. You can see some of mine on my website.
Title: Re: Sweetpea sowing times
Post by: CotswoldLass on February 23, 2011, 16:34:06
Gosh I'm a short-cutter! Put the seeds straight into the ground as soon as it starts to get a bit warmer. Always get a lovely crop though!