Growing Sweet Peas

[Ladygardener]

Last year as this year, I started them off in the toilet roll inners. Grew them on the windowledge until january when they were planted in the ground.

[Spruance]

Nov 9, 2008 8:12:26 GMT Ladygardener said:

Spruance,they're looking good to me. Will you pot on those in the seed trays when they're quite young?

That's the general idea LNG, and as I am doing it 'properly' this year it might just happen! The last couple of years it has tended to be January before I got around to it but with no apparent adverse effects.

[Ladygardener]

Spruance, I'll be watching like a Hawk as we say. ;D I like the fact that we're all in this together but doing it a little differently.

[farmersboy]

Yes,fun aint it ;D

[Dutchy]

Gosh thanks for that info FB and LNG I hope your SP for next year will be as good as these still going strong at MssK.



This is the best flower still hanging in.



Incredible how long these have kept going.
They were sown in situ early May this year.

( both pics were taken today )

[farmersboy]

Sweet peas sown straight into the ground 23rd Oct

[Ladygardener]

;D FB how fab.
Dutchy it looks like you still have buds on I will try harder to keep my spring sown ones next year.

[Dutchy]

Amazing but true. Even yesterday there still were buds and some fresh flowers.
The plant has lived in half shade all summer maybe that is why it is still going.
The ones in full sun died around september.

Isn't it good fun to see the new ones popping up at FB's place when the old tatty ones are still going at MssK.

[Jasmine]

Nov 15, 2008 11:11:47 GMT farmersboy said:

Sweet peas sown straight into the ground 23rd Oct

Well mine are still hopeless compared to that!
Will you thin those out FB or leave them as they are?

[Deleted]

Better than mine but ive not sown them yet i can be bothered with them yet.

Thats a good result though

[farmersboy]

I will leave them as they are Jas,then they can snuggle up and keep each other warm,if it gets frosty ;D

[Jasmine]

Nov 15, 2008 20:19:59 GMT farmersboy said:

I will leave them as they are Jas,then they can snuggle up and keep each other warm,if it gets frosty ;D

Ahhhhh!
Barely any of mine have germinated - I'm wondering about trying some more or is it too late now? Would it be better to wait until spring?

[Ladygardener]

I think it's still quite mild Jasmine so I'd go for it. They don't have to put on a lot of growth anyhow.

[Jasmine]

You've helped me make up my mind LNG - I can always get some more seed for a spring sowing.

[Missredhead]

I over sowed mine....put in too many in case they all didn't germinate...

Guess what!!! they all have come up ;D

[Jasmine]

Well - I'm going to confess now - I've got two. Don't think they liked being unattended while we were away and I didn't think to ask my neighbour to water the things in the little greenhouse.

[Missredhead]

I have so much condensation in my mini GH that I haven't had to water any of the plants in there.

[Ladygardener]

Of course you can Jasmine it really is worth the effort of sowing some at this time of year for an earlier start next year. I love having them to look after over the winter, makes the whole growing cycle seem more complete somehow. It hardly seems like anytime since I was pulling out this years and now next years are on their way ;D

[Ladygardener]

Well done MRH it's great when you have success.

[Missredhead]

Thanks LNG but I have no idea where they are all going to go.

[Ladygardener]

They can be planted really close together MRH, you'll find a way.

[Jasmine]

That will be one of my jobs for tomorrow - I am determined to get out in the garden!

Do you close your greenhouse at night MRH? Or do you keep it open until the really cold nights?

[Missredhead]

Yes but I will probably end up giving some away.......


I keep it closed Jas cos when I left it open last year the bl***y squirrels got in it and knocked over all the seedlings.

[Jasmine]

You've got very brave squirrels MRH - what a cheek!
I'm going to have to start shutting mine at night (I really want to save my scaevola until next year which could be a challenge) - and it might help my poor sweetpeas!

[Missredhead]

I dunno about brave squirrels..they are mental!

I saw one hanging from a very flimsy tree branch the other day upside down and swinging itself trying to get to a bird feeder, it fell off a few times but still kept at it until it finally managed to get to the nuts.

[Jasmine]

We rarely see any in our garden (which is lucky I know). There's one that walks along the fence every now and again safe in the knowledge that Jess can't see it any more!

[farmersboy]

Nov 15, 2008 20:24:53 GMT Jasmine said:

Nov 15, 2008 20:19:59 GMT farmersboy said:

I will leave them as they are Jas,then they can snuggle up and keep each other warm,if it gets frosty ;D

Ahhhhh!
Barely any of mine have germinated - I'm wondering about trying some more or is it too late now? Would it be better to wait until spring?

I certainly think its worth trying some more Jas,we may get a very mild winter

[Ladygardener]

Well for the record. Sown on 19/10/08 I guess if they were all going to germinate they'd have done it by now.

8 fragrantissima saved from this years plants 7 germinated. I sowed 1 more today

8 fragrantissima from last years packet 6 germinated. I sowed 2 more today (T&M)

16 blue ripple only 9 germinated. I sowed 7 more today Alan Romans

16 bright and breezy 15 germinated. I sowed 1 more today (T&M)

total 48

[Jasmine]

You have done well with your sweetpeas LNG.
I planted some more sweetpea seeds first thing this morning - now I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this lot!

[Ladygardener]

Thanks Jasmine, hope these ones do well for you. Do you have them outside so they will grow up strong? ;D