Grow Your Own Magazine

hello, i am hoping that someone might be able to advice me on what to do with my little sweet pea plants.

I sowed them in early january, had fantastic germination (aobut 100%) and now they are about 10-12 inches tall. they are starting to fall down. I don't really know anything about them other than that the packet said to plant them out in april/may...so, do they need to be supported like regular peas? should I put sticks in to the pots they are in now to support them?

sorry if this is a really obvious question, this is my first time growing any plants other than nicotinia which I grew last year.

many thanks.

jackie

Might be worth potting them on into deeper pots as you can't plant them out for over a month. They need lots of root room. If they are getting lots of light and are not too hot (as piskie says) then they will be fine. But do pinch out the tips or you will only get one long stem of flowers rather than two or three.

thanks so much for replying :-) off to pinch them out just now. they are out in my unheated greenhouse so hopefully not too warm and definitely getting plenty of light. i'll have a look to see if I can see roots and re-pot if needs be. oooo, I can't wait till I see them all grown up! thanks again :-)

Unless growing the dwarf kind, you’ll need a bamboo wigwam around which to grow the young plants. They can also be grown through shrubs. Keep them cool and in the light, until planting outside in April.

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thanks two sheds. I like the idea of growing through shrubs, will probably try both ways as I have planted loads. I pinched out the growing tips...and had a look at their roots...they are coming through the bottom of the pots so will repot this weekend.

thanks again for advice, will post photos when they are in their full glory :-)

Have you seen Sarah Raven's cunning idea of creating a sweet pea tunnel? If you've got loads they look wonderful planted on either side of an archway over a path. You could probably make your own archway with hazel poles if (unlike me) you're handy at that sort of thing.

I make a sweet pea tunnel each year. Copied from Sarah Raven. It is fabulous. I collect the seeds each year and this is my fifth year with the same seeds.

I must have made mine too narrow! I put SPs either side of the path into my potager veg garden last year. By July they'd blocked the way in! I had to shove past (oh, the scent!) or trample over one of the beds to reach the centre. Wigwam this year for me!

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Yes, I did the same on my first year, I have them a metre and a half apart now.

will have to check that out as i really like the idea...i have an ugly old broken green metal archway thing I rescued from the neighbours who were throwing it away, it would be ideal to cover in sweetpeas. thanks for fab idea.

Hi, After reading all the replies, was just wondering how tall they need to be before you should pinch out the tips

just to say thanks again, I had a look at my sweet peas today and I am pleased to say that they survived being pinched and are now developing lovely new growth from the sides, just as you all said they would :-)

spud 57, I pinched mine out when they were about 10 inches.

spud - I usually pinch when about 6 inches

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Suzie

Arghhh I think I was too eager to do the right thing, and I've pinched them out too early. Mine are about 4 inches tall

Has anyone grown the hanging basket types before? This is my first year of growing them in a basket (they are 'Bijou mixed' and I'm guessing you need to pinch them out a lot to stop them trailing to the floor?

Any advice gratefully received!

Hi Jeanine,

I would assume you don't have to pinch at all (well maybe once) if they are supposed to be basket cases

I only grow the sticky uppy ones ( see I know all the proper names) so can't say too much.

For anyone who is really interested in these little beauties (snadger for instance) have a look see in your local library and see if you can get hold of Bernard Jones book "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWEET PEAS" Written by one of the best growers and Breeders for sometime and also a warwickshire lad or if you're feeling flush you can buy a copy from the National society

PS I have now connection with the society at this time

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Thanks Nick I'll get a copy, I don't know what it is about sweet peas, but I can never seem to grow enough different varieties!

Hi Jeanine,

The main problem is the mixes that you get from the seedsmen sell don't have a great variation in.

If you feel rich go to someone like Roger Parsons or Owl Acre and get one of there Collections - I know you'll feint when you see the £11 price tag but then you'll get 10 varieties in a range of colours (and Named) and 10 seeds of each so you'll have enough for 2 years ( unless you want to grow 100 plants a year) but more importantly if you want to what you can do instead of growing in 1 row you gould have 10 wigwams and grow 1 variety per wam and then it makes saving your own seed really easy.

So is't a lot cheaper in the long run

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I usually pinch out the tips when they have two pairs of their own 'proper' leaves...yours will be fine..

Oh thank goodness for that - thanks very much cottage garden

10 wigwams, now that's music to my ears!

might need to get an extra allotment...