Sweet Peas

[nickdub]

Very excited to see the first signs of sweet pea shoots coming through. I planted them in my unheated greenhouse some weeks ago. Am a complete novice at non-edibles so will probably need some advice once they grow a bit.

Congratulations - growing plants from seed is always brilliant and inspiring.

a few tips :- pinch out the top of the plants when they are about 6" high to encourage them to make side-shoots - get the plants in the ground as soon as they seem a reasonable size, they like somewhere sunny where the ground doesn't dry out too much - pick the flowers regularly even if you don't want them, when they go to seed the flowering stops.

[annie8]

They seem to be doing ok. Take it they are not quite big enough to pinch out yet? I did see somewhere the suggestion that you should pinch after 2 sets of leaves develop.

[nickdub]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]85997[/ATTACH]They seem to be doing ok. Take it they are not quite big enough to pinch out yet? I did see somewhere the suggestion that you should pinch after 2 sets of leaves develop.

I'd let them get a little bigger before pinching out the tops, but it probably wouldn't be a problem if you did it now. They're going to need to be planted out or potted on pretty soon though.

[annie8]

Thanks. Think I’ll wait a bit. They are growing pretty slowly but guess it’s not been the warmest. Am hoping to get them out soon. Do they need it to be pretty warm before planting out ?

[nickdub]

Thanks. Think I’ll wait a bit. They are growing pretty slowly but guess it’s not been the warmest. Am hoping to get them out soon. Do they need it to be pretty warm before planting out ?

Mine have been outside for about a month - they don't like it much and look a bit sorry for themselves but I reckon the roots keep developing and as soon as it warms up they'll kick in to gear. I wouldn't plant in frosty weather - but that pretty much goes for anything.

[Babru]

I've had mine in my cold greenhouse too, and was thinking they needed to go out soon. I can see roots coming out the bottom of the pot. Toying with putting some plastic down on the bed they're to go in, maybe warm up the soil a bit (if the sun ever comes out that is!)

[nickdub]

I've had mine in my cold greenhouse too, and was thinking they needed to go out soon. I can see roots coming out the bottom of the pot. Toying with putting some plastic down on the bed they're to go in, maybe warm up the soil a bit (if the sun ever comes out that is!)

Should be fine - sounds like you have a plan - I've had sweet-peas outside in trays with snow all over them some years - they're much tougher than people think.

[farendwoman]

Hope all goes well - I have to put something over mine (usually thorny twigs) to protect them from the deer - but I reckon the main thing is to encourage the plants to make extensive root systems before the weather turns dry .

Your cornflowers should be fine to plant out now.

I followed Nickdub�s advice and put mine out on about 25 Feb.
They�re looking good - will post a photo tomorrow.
The cornflowers are also looking good - so thanks for that,Nick!

[nickdub]

I followed Nickdub’s advice and put mine out on about 25 Feb.
They’re looking good - will post a photo tomorrow.
The cornflowers are also looking good - so thanks for that,Nick!

You're very welcome - glad it worked out OK for you - very nice to get some feedback. :-)

[farendwoman]

You're very welcome - glad it worked out OK for you - very nice to get some feedback. :-)

Photo of sweet peas

[farendwoman]

And cornflowers

[Scarlet]

Photo of sweet peas
[ATTACH=CONFIG]86018[/ATTACH]

I always use netting...do those strings work well/are you tying in lots?

[Bren In Pots]

I've stared taking my sweet peas out of the GH during the day to get them used to being outdoors. I seem to have more failures than usual

[farendwoman]

I always use netting...do those strings work well/are you tying in lots?

I only tie them in at the start when I plant them out. Thereafter they just grab on to the canes and the horizontal strings I�ve previously put in at about 10 inch spacing.
Has always worked well for me.
No trouble!

[farendwoman]

I always use netting...do those strings work well/are you tying in lots?

Finished off the horizontal strings yesterday....... now let�s hope those sweet peas take off!