sweet pea help

[helly]

Hello all , I have some sweetpeas that are about 6" in height, can anyone advise me when to pich out. This is the 1st time I've grown them at this time of year,after watching an episode ofGardeners World scarery ....
It said on the show that by piching them out they will develop thicker stems for next year....
Any info on this much appriciated
cheers Helen

[Flummery]

Mine are usually about 6" high when I pinch them. It's not so much thicker stems but the fact that they will branch - the dormant buds below will break and you'll get several stems from each plant instead of a single leader. This means more flowers, which is what we're all growing them for! If they're actively growing I'd pinch them. If they've stopped for the winter, wait till they start shooting up in spring. That's what I'd do anyway.