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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 1, 2007 12:02:42 GMT
Hi all, I think of growing sweet peas through my border. Hopefully they will scramble up over my shrubs and perennials. The trouble is i know nothing about these plants. Has anyone got any do's or donts ? Best positioning, what type of soil, when to buy and when to plant ? Any help appreciated ! Mr G  |
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Post by Spruance on Mar 1, 2007 12:37:38 GMT
There are various methods for growing Sweet Peas Mr G, but this is mine. Now is a good time to sow the seed, although they can also be sown in October and overwintered, which is what I normally do. Sweet Peas prefer a rich soil, and really need some form of support. A twiggy bush would be ok but not perennials. Alternatively you could put in some canes for them to scramble up. Positioning? I don't really think it matters. My main 'crop' grow against a north facing fence, but they do equally well on an arch on the south facing side of the garden and east facing front of the house. Perhaps best to avoid areas that get too hot, otherwise I don't see a problem. Also, for repeat flowering you should pick the flowers at least once every two days, and remove any seed pods that form. Once you have had a vase of Sweet Peas in the house, you will never want to be without them! |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 1, 2007 12:58:59 GMT
Well as I am only growing Sweet Peas for the second time - the first time they fried, I can't tell you a lot about them except that I forgot to soak mine overnight and just bunged them in.......
Also a good few years ago my FIL decided to grow his Sweet Peas over 5 or 6 old roses that were a little yukky (I didn't know then what I now know about Roses) and I must admit they looked lovely all summer until it came to the Autumn.
He would never ever do it again - try getting Sweet Peas off Roses once they have twined their way through the tiniest of places. The only good thing was that we could cut things back thus getting rid of the Sweet Peas as well.
I think that it might look lovely but do have things that can be cut back or put them on their own.
RF
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2007 13:15:36 GMT
Mr. G, this is a brilliant idea. I no longer have space on walls for sweet peas, but grew them last year and, as Spruance says, now can't bear the thought of being without a vase of them in the Summer. So now I'll grow them threw shrubs ... cheers ...
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Post by Barbara on Mar 1, 2007 20:07:21 GMT
mr grinch,i always put wet newspaper in the hole i dig for my sweetpeas,
i saw them do it on gardeners world once,
i grow mine over a wigwam.
barbara
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 1, 2007 22:03:45 GMT
Just had another look at your garden photo's Mr G to try and get and idea what shrubs and perennials you grow and how sweet peas could fit in. The only shrub I could see was one close to the house and it looks much to dense to grow SP's through. Your borders look lovely but again too dense with plants for SP's to grow through. They would more than likely just lay in the plants and most probably not survive. You have plenty of other places to grow them though, like on the 2 trellis's in front of your patio, up the shed or the Wendy House  |
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Post by owainglyndwr on Mar 1, 2007 22:17:15 GMT
How far apart do you space them? I've potted mine into one plant per pot. Would four inches between plants be okay.?
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 1, 2007 22:26:32 GMT
How far apart do you space them? I've potted mine into one plant per pot. Would four inches between plants be okay.? no rights or wrongs, really WB... generally I would ease them out to more like 12" to go up canes but probably closer, 6-9" for netting. 4inches is probably overkill... OM. |
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 2, 2007 6:48:13 GMT
Hi Chuckles,
I have roses in the border and some Buddleija. But i think your right, it does get pretty crowded during the growing season. I might grow them in tubs over the shed, trouble is there gonna need a lot of water as it very hot at the back of the garden !!
Mr G
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