Allotments 4 All

For the first time I thought I'd get ahead of the game and start them off early,the seeds I collected from this years flowers on the plot have all made sturdy little plants but what to do next? They seem to be growing fast and furious.Should I pinch out? (conflict in books)should I put them outside? They are in an unheated greenhouse at present.How cold can they stand to be?
Is there a hexpert out there please? ;D

hi Emaggie, I would pinch the tops out or they will go crazy and grow all over the place, I wouldn't put them outside.

the weather is a bit odd for this time of the year,everything thinks its spring and is growing again, they will die if they don't have protection.

I'm not an hexpert by the way ;D/shades x

eric, our resident plot expert says, if they grow leggy, pinch them out so they get a check, he's 84 and has been growing sweet peas for 60 years so I listen when he speaks   :)

I always sew mine on 10 Oct and I sew them in john innes compost 10 to a 6" pot and I leave them outside on the windowsill (faces west). They stay there until it's time to plant them out. This way they dont reach or get straggly. In frosty weather I cover them with fleece. Usually old stuff thats got torn and won't make a cloche. I have never had any problems. I only grow 1 stem per plant so I dont remove anything until they are in the ground and then they produce a nice strong side shoot. I leared everything from an oldie by name of Ken Baldwin who won first prize every bloomin year at our local show. He's passed on now but at least he's left some of his knowledge behind

Thanks for asking that question Emaggie. I also have done the same, just two pots sown in October. Think I will try one pot in each method. Almost wish I had sown more in October but as this is the first time I have tried this way I chickened out ;D
Lorna

Hey Lorna it's not too late to sew some more because the weathers still ok. Just keep your fleece handy. Sweet peas are best grown hardy. I will keep you posted as to how mine are doing

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1100/sweet_peas.asp
Just found this page. Hope it will be useful

Put all my sweet peas in in one go, Lorna. Almost wish I hadn't ???

All this info is brilliant, thankyou so much,folks.
Thanks,Shirlton. Will print that off now.

OK Shirley I am going to try some more tomorrow :) The two pots are in my greenhouse at the moment, I haven't had the heating on yet. In fact to try and cut expences and also because I haven't got many cuttings this year I am inclined to only heat the g. house if it turns really cold. I have bubble wrapped and also some fleece ready. Thanks for the link, another print out to add to the file.
I will have to keep in touch Emaggie to see how we both get on :)

I was only looking at my sweetpea packet today which said plant in January and I thought that I had planted in Oct before.
So now you have all put my mind at rest, you know what I will be doing tomorrow  :D  :D

ming are already about a foot high and i've pinched the growing tips off. should they be this tall already? they've been growing like there's no tommorow:

Oooh err, Wahaj, they look great.I wonder how big they will get  :o
Maybe they will slow down as the weather gets colder.

Sweet peas are very hardy annuals. They should be kept cold overwinter to discourage rapid growth. They should NOT be molly-coddled.
I sow mine in approx mid October in the cold GH. When the seedlings are approx half an inch high they are put into the coldframe. They are not covered but left exposed to the winter weather. They will withstand very low temperatures. They may need protecting against slugs and mice.
If the plants grow too rapidly they are pinched out after the third pair of leaves. This will encourage branching. If more rapid growth occurs before transplanting to the flowering position in March/April they may need pinching out again.
There is a long thread on sweet peas on the BBC design and inspiration message board.

Thanks, Toadspawn, will look at BBC today. ;D. I'm determined to have at least 2 wigwams on my plot next year and some at home too, though having harvested my own seeds from only 3 plants I think I might be limited for colour !!( I did buy some Wyvale cheapies too but they don't look as healthy as mine.)

great stuff Lorna, you go get yourself some more seed. I get mine from Eagle nursery. they are specialist sweet pea growers. I got mine on line for £1 for ten (well they give you 11). This year I wll do what I used to do when I grew them years  ago to show. I grew 2 of each plant just for seed. This way you are sure to get nice ripe seeds. I found that if you wait until the end of the season because you have to pick for continued flowering you only get the scrapings of the barrel. If we all save our own seed we can swap some. I can't wait to see the results of all this chinwagging.lol
This year I'm growing some of my favourites and a few new ones.
Charlies angel
Jilly
Anniversary
Mumsie
Winner
Mrs, B Jones
I used to grow one named Charles Unwin. If anyone sees it for sale anywhere could they let me know. Ive posted a pic of it

hey, emaggie, I've three packets of sweet peas you could have if you wish, no swap, I received 10 packs instead of 5  so have too many,
flagship, mid purple
diamond wedding, white
the doctor, lilacy purple
if this will help with your limited colour, you're welcome to them, just pm your address  :)

Oooh thankyou, Manics. Will do. :D

Hi Shirlton

I think Charles Unwin is still available from Unwins.

Cheers, I will take a look. I used to get all my seeds from Boltons but I think they must have stopped trading whilst I was in hibernation.( how very dare they)

Had a look at the unwins site and they only sell charles unwin as part of a 13-99 set. perhaps they will do it on it's own next year. I would have had a packet extra to what I now have but not six