Sweet Peas: Best thing to climb up?

[Nicos]

I'm mixing mine with my mangetout this year, up a willow wigwam.

Are you confident as to which pods belong to which plants??? I wouldn't be ( aren't sweetpeas toxic or something if eaten in error????)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_pea

[WeeGarden]

Sweetpeas have smaller furry pods and have a tougher skin than mange tout pods. At least they did with the variety I grew last year... I just have to make sure I don't send hubby out to pick our dinner.

[Flummery]

I'm taking a dried willow sculpture course in 2 weeks time. I really hope I can make a classy climbing teepee for my second sowing!

[parsnip/princess]

Im going to go sweet pea mad this year!!
I cant wait.
Im awaiting a new greenhouse to be delivered, so i can get started.
They are just such a great hardy flowering plant and make everything look gorgeous!!
Im getting yeti, to fix some massive trellis all around my front door, so it grows up and around for the postman and visitors!! x
Cutting them and having them in the house is just as rewarding. x

[sarraceniac]

Cutting them and having them in the house is just as rewarding. x

Why do you want to cut the postman and visitors and have them in the house?

Sorry. I'm often like this on a weekend.

[tlck9]

am I right in saying that my sweat peas can go in my unheated polytunnel?

I have stacks growing so I want to make sure I have room for others.

I have some old fishing net, I was thinking I could use these to grow them up, near my polytunnel

(not perhaps the right question here, but are they toxic to chickens

[Elaineb]

Most of my sweet peas were sown in November and at the moment are in an unheated greenhouse. I pinched out the tops when they were about 4" high and they are looking really healthy. I got a free packet with something or other about 3 weeks ago and these are also coming on well in the greenhouse. Looks like I'll have loads of sweet peas to plant out which is good 'cos they're my favourite flower. I usually just plant them on old canes but I think I'll treat myself to a couple of those obelisk things (garden centre vouchers for Christmas) and put them out in a couple of weeks time.

I have mine on the window sill in a tray and are about 4-5" high, Now I am a complete novice...what's this pinching out of the tops mean and how do I do it...and why

Cheers E x

[Jeanied]

Elaine it is to encourage them to grow bushy and strong, so they produce more stems and more flowers. Just nip out the growing tip, down to just above the next pair of leaves- there will be two new shoots from the leaf nodes that way.

[ginger ninger]

Glad I've seen this tread, its just reminded me to sow my sweet peas, I've bought a trailing one this year for the hanging baskets and half moon baskets for the fence.

[Elaineb]

Elaine it is to encourage them to grow bushy and strong, so they produce more stems and more flowers. Just nip out the growing tip, down to just above the next pair of leaves- there will be two new shoots from the leaf nodes that way.

Thanks Jeanied
x

[northepaul]

Hoping you wont mine me jumping in here, I have never grown them before, but got given some seeds for christmas (SS) and sowed them a little while ago..they are doing really well (about 3-4" high) and after reading this thread, regarding planting them with runner beans, wondered if I can plant them with edible peas ( I have some feltham firsts) or is this a no no?
Secondly, why do you need to pinch out the tops? How much do you pinch off?

Thanks and hope that doesnt sound too dumb!

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Thanks for all the tips.

I've decided on making an obelisk out of bamboo and garden wire. Hope that works!

[sarraceniac]

QUOTE Secondly, why do you need to pinch out the tops? How much do you pinch off?

Paul. See Jeanied's reply above. And you don't pinch off you pinch out. Just the growing tip.

[northepaul]

QUOTE Secondly, why do you need to pinch out the tops? How much do you pinch off?

Paul. See Jeanied's reply above. And you don't pinch off you pinch out. Just the growing tip.

Thanks Sarraceniac, that told me!

Anyone any thoughts on the edible pea/sweet pea idea of mine....or is it just too stupid to answer?
Thea

[sarraceniac]

Boy. No wonder they made me president of our Grumpy Old Men group.

No reason why you can't grow them along with peas. Just watch what you are eating.