Sweet peas

[andy]

Are they worth growing ?....you really can't beat the smell of the flowers but the smell only lasts a day !!!...the flowers don't last a lot longer either.

I've grown loads this year and i suppose the only saving grace is that i'm getting at least one vase full a day so we do have the smell all the time.

But the plants then look drab keep taking all the flowers off. Added to this all the watering, heavy feeding and slug control.....

Just made me wonder if they're worth it

[Chuckles]

I think they are worth it but I suppose everyone to thier own. If you grow them on mass in a row they shouldn't look drab because you have continous blooms even if you pick some for the house. I put 3/4 plants in pots that have other stuff growing in like Roses/Clems etc, they need feed and water so it's no hassle to me and I get nice suprises as I walk round the garden

[beanie]

the only one i've grown this year is a species sweet pea called bellinensis. I'm growing it over the front of tall planter that O.H built. It's just started to flower. No scent on it though

[JennyWrenn]

I am growing these for the Trials and have five lots in different parts of the garden

I didnt pinch them out so will wait and see - so far no slugs have bothered with them and they are supporting themselves quite well and look lush and healthy

They are my favourite flower and my "Birthday" flower too - Aries

Worth it for the flowers, the smell and of course keep picking them and they keep growing

[lottielady]

Ooh Andy they are worth it! If you want the scent to last the life of the flower once they are cut try some of these seeds - bit more expensive but totally worth it.

www.sweetpeasonline.co.uk/

LLx

[Rosefriend]

I have just looked at the website LL - some lovely varieties there aren't there?

I must admit that I have grown sweetpeas for the first time again in years because of the trials and I will definitely being doing them every year from now on.

The scent takes me back to my childhood when we used to go visiting friends in Minchinhampton and the garden was full of sweetpeas - I will never forget how they smelt.

RF

[farmersboy]

I think Sweet peas are definitely worth growing,i sow the seeds in November straight into the ground andforget about them till spring, when i give them some feed and sticks to climb up.The perfume lasts about four days indoors,but its every day from all around the garden and down the road outside.Passersby stop and admire,and smell them,and remark on how much pleasure they give them,and of course i get a great satisfaction growing them.

John.

[4pygmies]

Cor..if I could get Sweet Peas to grow like that I prolly would have more...but sadly I can't. I always start off with good intentions, sow them in Autumn etc but by the time I've got them out I'm usually snowed under with all the other seeds and plants I'm looking after, so they are shamefully neglected. Also my garden is very parched and dry most summers so the veggies get watered before the flowers.....they go to seed very very quickly cos I forget to keep picking them. Shocking, really - I am a Sweet Pea abuser.......very sorry.....

[Chuckles]

They look fab FB and thats exactly what I meant when I said "If you grow them on mass in a row they shouldn't look drab because you have continous blooms "

I can almost smell those....snnnnnnnnnnniff ;D

[Chuckles]

Just been and picked a few of mine they will help mask the smell of paint

[Rosefriend]

I just wish that I had the room for a display as lovely as that Farmersboy's. Absolutely gorgeous - you are right Chuckles, I can almost smell them from here.........

RF

[Deleted]

I love sweetpeas, and will get organised next year to grow them up a wigwam in a pot. Last year I had a wall covered with them while I was waiting for a perennial climber to get going and the looked and smelled fantastic - but nothing like Farmersboy's!! ... cheers ...

[lottielady]

rosefriend said:

I have just looked at the website LL - some lovely varieties there aren't there?

I must admit that I have grown sweetpeas for the first time again in years because of the trials and I will definitely being doing them every year from now on.

The scent takes me back to my childhood when we used to go visiting friends in Minchinhampton and the garden was full of sweetpeas - I will never forget how they smelt.

RF

Sowing them in autumn and overwintering in a coldframe makes for better plants too RF. David K recommended Matthewmans seeds to me (and PA ) last year and the ones I have are much bigger and stronger plants than the other 2 varieties I have sown and they smell divine!

LLx

[MamIDdau]

I'm growing Snoopea variety this year, lil bushy ones and I've grown some ones just called patio mix and they've turned out lovely so far.

The snoopea ones are 50p a pack from alan romans... so I bought 2 ;D

[farmersboy]

Yes L L, i find that Autumn sown are definitely better,you get a much bigger,stronger plant,also bigger blooms on longer stalks, and being in Essex i don't need to use cold frames or any other protection,they will take quite a lot of frost. Just wish i was a bit taller,as the sweet peas are about 8feet high,and im a little over 5,and i cant reach them.
John.

[lottielady]

I have that trouble too John ;D

Sorry I forgot to say before your sweetpeas look fabulous!

LLx

[farmersboy]

Thanks for all you're kind comments.
John

[Chuckles]

Thanks for sharing your pics and tips FB I'm certainly going to do autumn sowings this year.

Already got supplies ;D but I'm sure I'll probably get more

Left overs from this year

Blue Velvet
Horizon Mixed
Old Fashioned mixed
Antique Fantasy
America

Purchased from GW

The Staffordshire Collection - Lianne Marie, Winner, Just Jenny, Charlies Angel, Cathy Wright, Katie Alice, Subtle Charm, Sandi Jones, Our Harry and Jilly

Wilkos Half Price

Cupani
Giant Waved

[lottielady]

Blimey Chuckles - and I thought I was bad buying so many seeds

LLx

[Spruance]

I would say that sweet peas are definitely worth it. I always buy my seed from Matthewmans (the sweetpeasonline site) because their seed produces almost 100 per cent germination, and although they may be a little more expensive than other sources, the scent and the various varieties are beyond comparison IMO.

I usually spend around £30 on sweet pea seed which equates to around 200 seeds, all of which are sown in the autumn.

The majority of the plants are grown on plastic clematis mesh against the north facing boundary fence which borders the veg plot. These are purely for picking purposes. I also have sweet peas on a wooden arch seat at the bottom of the garden, and on a chicken-wire covered tubular steel arch at the side of the house just off the front garden. These are just for show, and are only dead-headed for continuity of flowering.

I suppose sweet peas are a lot of work, but the scent alone makes it all worth while, and where else can you get a bunch of sweet peas?

[farmersboy]

Could not agree more, Spruance.
John.

[Chuckles]

Although I've not had much success with mine this year lets just say FIL looked after them while I was on hols anyhow I'm on my 3rd small vase of them in the house so that alone has been worth it.

[andy]

Well....i'm eating a large plateful of humble pie because my sweetpeas are throwing out bunch after bunch of superb flowers. I'm certainly getting a good vase full every day and despite them losing a majority of the scent after day one, they look superb. I'll certainly be growing them next year

[Chuckles]

Goodo Andy, glad your converted.

You've not been sniffing them too much have you maybe thats the reason the scent is only lasting a day ;D ;D

[farmersboy]

Grow sweet peas Andy,you know it makes sence

[Essexgirl]

I'm going to try grow them again after a couple of failed attemps. What variety/s are best for scent and autumn sewing?

[weedorcas]

Farmersboy, I was thrilled with mine till I saw yours!
However this has been my first year at having a go with them, and the success I've had is going to make me do it better next year. I used seeds which someone gave me, so I wasn't really prepared. I sowed them last October, and kept them in the greenhouse till spring. I then planted them up in three huge pots, with cane wigwams.
The smell, the colours, the mass of flowers for the house convinces me that not only are they worth growing, they are worth lots of time and energy.
So Fat Andy, that's my answer. Yes!

[Chuckles]

essexgirl said:

I'm going to try grow them again after a couple of failed attemps. What variety/s are best for scent and autumn sewing?

Lottie posted this link in a previous reply on this thread, looks a good site and they are coded by scent, code C is the best scent.

www.sweetpeasonline.co.uk/

My list of left overs a couple of replies back on here are all good for scent too, not sure as any variety is better for autumn sowing, all the same I would think

I'm going to do Autumn sewings this year too this time

[JennyWrenn]

Goodness Chuckles you are going to be as bad as Plocket with her Clems ;D Like the idea of Blue Velvet

I am really quite proud of my efforts with the sweet peas this year; but then I look at the photo of Farmer's Boy

[oldmoleskins]

As sweetpeas have been broadly a 'hit' this year maybe we could do a trial... pick a single widely available variety - maybe from Matthewmans - and sow half in the autumn and half in the spring?

OM.