Autumn sown sweet peas - Page 2

This is a vase of picotees, cut during last week's warm weather.

David K wrote (see)

This is a vase of picotees, cut during last week's warm weather.

Click on the picture to enlarge it, gives a better view.

last year i planted from seed and had what id call a bush of sweet peas in a lovely sunny spot and kept the seeds for this year.

i gave my grandam some plants that id grown from seed the same time as i planted mine out and hers failed miserably. her friend told her to soak the seeds in a small bit of water for a day or so then plant them out. personally ive never done this, only planted them in a pot/plugs then left them in the green house and plantes out when ready. i cheated this year and bougt plugs from b&q As we didnt move in till the start of feb and by the time we got settled i didnt have time to do it from seed.

i cannot wait for my first pick to pop on the kitchen table

To prove David's point about the hardiness of sweet peas, here is a photo of sweet pea seedlings in my garden in December 2010:

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/koala_girl/2010Dec02sweetpeasunderthesnow.jpg

And here they are a few days later:

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt165/koala_girl/2010Dec04sweetpeas.jpg

Yeah, my sweet peas were sown in Feb last year but were still flowering on Christmas Day last year, only the really heavy snow killed them off, some time in January.

I'm hoping the seeds I took off the plant are going to be just as nice. I will also sow some this autumn as I absolutely love sweet peas.

Koalagirl, your photos are amazing, and I am now thoroughly convinced.  Two sowings are going to be the way for me in future.   Thanks everybody!

gardengirl - these are my autumn sown sweet peas just before planting out:

 I'm sure you would agree, they are very healthy & compact plants.

My autumn sowings are now 5 feet high in the garden, spring sowings are no more than 2 feet! 

Ever notice how the first sweet pea stems are very long,and gradually they get shorter in time !

Anyone know when the spring sown ones are likely to flower ? My first attempt this year . They are approx 3 ft high but now signs of any flowers yet . I was also advised to pinch out  to make them bushier - hope this was the correct advice ! Think they are Spencer mix and they all seem to be growing well .

David K your advice on sweetpeas is so interesting I live in the north of Scotland so have always done a spring sowing of seeds but for next year Im going to go wth October minus 12 thats amazingly low temps for them to survive.

Yes, I shall be trying the autumn plus spring sowing starting in October.    I am still waiting for a sign of flowers on mine this year.    Mind you, a little sun might encourage them but that is beyond any gardener's control!

jean riley wrote (see)

Anyone know when the spring sown ones are likely to flower ? My first attempt this year . They are approx 3 ft high but now signs of any flowers yet . I was also advised to pinch out  to make them bushier - hope this was the correct advice ! Think they are Spencer mix and they all seem to be growing well .

About another three weeks, Jean....depending on the weather of course.

weejenny wrote (see)

David K your advice on sweetpeas is so interesting I live in the north of Scotland so have always done a spring sowing of seeds but for next year Im going to go wth October minus 12 thats amazingly low temps for them to survive.

Weejenny - I'm not sure about the extremes of you weather of course, but yes, they will cope with -12c without any problem.

Of course, if you over-winter them in a coldframe and temps more severe than say -12c are expected, all you need to do is throw a piece of old carpet over the frame.

Don my Ton wrote (see)

Ever notice how the first sweet pea stems are very long,and gradually they get shorter in time !

Don - It's a fact that after the first flush of flowers, the stems do tend to get shorter. It helps if you remove the tendrils and grow quality seed from a sweet pea specialist, such as Eagle Sweet Peas.

David K, thanks for that Ive got carpet Ill do that

Oh, goodness me.     Still, life is one big learning curve, for you and your daughter!   I hope you were able to laugh about it later (after the tears).

Great!   We need to nuture an interest in gardening in children.    I always wish it had been done wih me, although I did watch my Dad - just wasn't allowed to touch anything.   I'm a pensioner now, but if I had my time over again, I would try for horticultural college!