Talkback: Growing sweet peas - Talkback

20/06/2011 at 17:33

Just picked by first bunch this year, the scent is heavenly (went with CAROL KLEINS recommendation) but ugh! the little black bugs, I drowned them in the sink,does anybody have a cure?

Gardeners' World Web User

20/06/2011 at 17:53

Hi Chrisk, put the flowers in a dark place with one light source, they will head out to the light and no black bugs! For more see my blog on www.fennelandfern.co.uk

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20/06/2011 at 18:04

How strange...I have been thinking of growing perennial sweet peas as a hedge since I saw them at the botanic gardens in Bath the other week, but Ive been too scared to admit it in front of you non-edible lovers...I didnt know if it would be likewalking into a bar for the first time, looking along the line of drinks and ordering a Babycham

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20/06/2011 at 18:15

My garden becomes a vision of pink and purple once the perennial sweet peas are in flower. They scramble up through my hawthorn tree which is beautiful in blossom and berry but needs clothing in between. Similarly with cotoneaster. It scrambles through the bamboo as ground cover and is so floriferous I can have big bunches in the kitchen. But I am growing myGW freebie seeds in pots and can't wait to smell the flowers. It won't be long as they have reached the top of their cane wigwam.

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21/06/2011 at 04:11

I've obviously done something wrong here. I planted my sweet pea seeds at the end of March, in loo rolls, hardened them off and planted out about a month ago. They look ok and there's lots of growth, but they're only about a foot tall and not even the sniff of a bud, never mind flowers. Have I had it? I'm in Prague and the weather's been wet and warm in equal measure.

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21/06/2011 at 07:53

Hi, I was tempted by some perennial sweet peas at the weekend but for some rather foolish reason decided against it and I'm now kicking myself. My parents have a large one and its blooms are wonderful - if almost scentless, but will still look amazing in a vase regardless. My own annuals are blooming now; I love this time of year where the vase is never empty.

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21/06/2011 at 07:59

The only way to get good long stems and quality (annual) sweet pea blooms is to grow them as cordons - single stems, with all side shoots and tendrils removed almost daily and blooms always picked, whether needed indoors or not. The most widely grown perennial sweet pea is like fire - a wonderful servant, but ferocious and damaging if it spreads out of control I'd urge you to consider other wonderful, better behaved perennial pea species, especially Lathyrus rotundifolius which has been a star in my garden, with its bricky pink flowers. Also the dwarf, cerise-flowered L. tuberosus aka the Fyfield Pea. The black insects are not bugs but pollen beetles. The way I clear them is to hold the bunch of flowers in my hand, extend my arm and swing it round like a windmill, as fast as I dare without wrecking the flowers. It's a similar action to drying lettuce held in a tea towel. The beetles are ejected by centrifugal force. Nigel Colborn

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21/06/2011 at 09:04

I sowed perennial sweet peas all around my garden in spring. They're not doing much. I expect great, non-scented things from them next year.

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21/06/2011 at 11:39

i have to say theses are something that i always struggle with growing for some reason ... they start of ok,nice and green grow up tp about 5ins,then nothing.... what am i doing wrong... maybe its the seed packets themselves. any ideas... the 1's i would like to grow are the 1's with a lot of scent and large flowers.

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21/06/2011 at 12:35

planted sweetpeas with my beans they are sprouting well.

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21/06/2011 at 14:11

There is a blue sweet pea.L. sativus azureus which would look good in the middle of my blue Olympic ring so I must try and find it.

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21/06/2011 at 18:24

I always grow Painted Lady and Cupani sweet peas, a vase full of their flowers fill a room with the most wonderful scent. This year I have also grown the free packet of sweet pea seeds that came with Gardeners' World magazine. They are growing well and I cannot wait to see the flowers. I gathered of lot of seeds from my perennial sweet pea last year and I should think every single one grew. I now have the little plants in the front garden where eventually everyone in the close will be able to enjoy their beauty.

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23/06/2011 at 15:29

Sweet peas are the best usually I have not had much success but this year they are coming on great, can't wait for the lovely smell they give off

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23/06/2011 at 19:14

Should sweet peas by pinched out to make them bushy? I did this but growth has been slow and the flower stems are about 3 inches long. Hope your son recovers Gwen.

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23/06/2011 at 20:05

I had an english neighbour who easily grew sweet peas every year, so I know they'll grow here in Ontario. I grow perennial ones and was delighted to discover that they are pink. I thought they only came in white. I'd like to grow scented pretty annual one's and start them in my little green house or under my grow lights. Any pointers would be appreciated.

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24/06/2011 at 15:29

This year, I've gone for a hanging basket variety of sweet pea - Sugar 'n' Spice. It looks incredible on both sides of my front door and has quite a scent to. I'd recommend it. Still have to dead head though - but so many flowers! I grew them from seed and it took quite a while for the young plants to get establish - nearly gave up on them. But now the days are warmer with plenty of sunshine, they are really going for it. http://www.theallotmentgarden.co.uk/gardening-blog/

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24/06/2011 at 16:01

why I keep loosing my cucumber plants in the greenhouse. please help me.

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24/06/2011 at 16:03

I would be very obliged with an answer.thank you

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26/06/2011 at 10:07

My sweet peas looked great for ages and lots of flowers which were cut straight away! but now my leaves are turning brown and they are not flowring! what can i do?

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26/06/2011 at 11:47

Have a huge Japanese Knotweed in the the communal verge where I live. A lady gardener cut it down to the stumps, and burned the cuttings. I then drilled down the exposed stumps with an electric drill, using a 15 inch drill bit into the heart of the root ball. We the poured glyphosate down each of the stumps. That was two weeks ago, and fingers crossed, it appears to have killed the plant in one go.