Sweet Peas: Best thing to climb up?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I will have too many sweet pea (Lathyrus oderatus) planths this year due to a too keen bout of sowing!

I'm growing the ones at home up a standard trellis, but I will take the rest to my allotment for a splash of colour.

Can I train them up a wigwam? (i.e. the sort of wigwam you would use for runner beans). Or do they need something better to grip on than slim bamboo canes?

[Jeanied]

I always use a bamboo wigwam for mine, C+D - and also use little wire sweet pea training rings - not very expensive from the GC.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Thanks Jeanied.

[Two_Sheds]

If the bamboo canes are new (and slippy) then spiral some string up them for the peas to grip onto.

[piskieinboots]

or rough 'em up with a sand-paper rub down - no idea if this works, but it sounds like it might

[Flummery]

Mine grow up elderly canes and do fine. A specially made obelisk looks charming - and costs - but a wigwam of canes serves just as well. And when the sweet peas are in full flower, you can't tell WHAT they're growing up!

[bramble]

Hasd anyone sown their sweet pea seeds yet and if so where are they being kept.

[sarraceniac]

Hasd anyone sown their sweet pea seeds yet and if so where are they being kept.

Whey. Thanks for reminding me. Job for this week. Give me a chance to try the LED light panel that has just arrived and was built into a light box today by my practical friend and neighbour.

[shirlthegirl43]

Mine will be sown in the next week or so into the window box trough which is beside my shed. I have plastic mesh pinned to the side of the shed and the plants are watered by the rain running off the roof. Had a great display last year from only a few plants so hoping to sow more this year.

[Flummery]

I sowed some last back end. They are out in the garden surviving the snows ans frosts and slowly going up their canes. I shall sow some more in a couple of weeks. They are dead tough.

[Bren In Pots]

I sowed mine on the 4th Feb and they germinated by the 12th on my kitchen window sill, they're about 2 inch high and have been moved to my unheated greenhouse.

[northmaid]

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.

[sagegreen]

Try planting a few sweet-pea plants out in the runner bean row, I tried this last year - it's not exactly companion planting, but the extra splashes of colour caused a few comments!

[Brengirl]

Try planting a few sweet-pea plants out in the runner bean row, I tried this last year - it's not exactly companion planting, but the extra splashes of colour caused a few comments!

Exactly what I was going to say. The sweetpea is a favourite for bees so encourage them.

[WeeGarden]

I'm mixing mine with my mangetout this year, up a willow wigwam. I've always wanted one, but they're usually quite expensive but last weekend managed to get a couple from the Wyevale sale for £3 each. They're a bit battered, but it should do me for a couple of seasons.