Any Sweet Pea Tips?

[Jono]

Hi all,

I'm getting married on June 18th, and we're trying to grow our own sweet peas for the day.

They've been growing indoors for a while, and are nearly ready to go outside.

Does anyone have any tips to help them make it through for the day? I've dug a trench for them to go in to which I've been filling with compost etc, and we're going to build a frame.

Any other advice much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jono.

[Kristen]

I pick mine twice a week (even if I don't need any, as if they set seed the plant thinks its done its job and "stops")

You will want to pick the right number of days before the day so that on the day (or the day before) a fresh crop is ready.

I was a bit chaotic with my Sweetpeas last year, but I think they were sown in January-ish, and grown on in the greenhouse until a reasonable size for planting out - so probably flowering about as early as they can, but I have a photo titled "First Sweeetpeas" which was on 04-July - so hopefully yours will be more advanced than that

[nick the grief]

Hi all,
...
Any other advice much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jono.

Join the foreign legion ... it's cheaper


Water well the day before. Pick them partly open(early morning is best before the day gets too hot), and keep them somewhere cool and dark to hold them back.

If you're wanting them for a button hole or posy you'll need some sort of container with water in or better still some of the flower food you get with bunches of flowers these days.

Hope that helps and have a good time

[Flummery]

I'd also say that when the plants are about 6" high, pinch out the tops. They will bush then and you'll get more shoots.

[cozeekitten]

I was told that if you cut off tendrils that are not holding the sweet peas onto there support you get longer stemmed sweet peas. If there is no truth to this someone more knowlegable will let us both know. Have a great day!!

[Flummery]

Don't know about that but I know a lot of people who show their sweet peas do it. I rather thought is was so that the stems of the flowers grow straight? I always get a few that bend over because a tendril had grabbed them on the way past!

[Gearoid]

The tendrils are cut off so the plant can put all of its energy into producing better flowers. Exhibitors do it, but I wouldn't bother when they're just for me.

[Jono]

Thanks all. I'll bear all the tips in mind and keep my fingers and toes crossed.

[nick the grief]

I was told that if you cut off tendrils that are not holding the sweet peas onto there support you get longer stemmed sweet peas. If there is no truth to this someone more knowlegable will let us both know. Have a great day!!

THey are right it's an exhibitor thing but then you have to use sweet pea rings to clip the plant to the canes and when they hit the top you take all the clips off and move the tops round a couple of canes and tie them in and start again. If you want the for cutting I wouldn't bother.

If you see a particular colour you want to save, tie some coloured wool ( not green else you'll not find it) to the flower stem, lett it go to seed and then you'll know that this is the colour you want as they self pollenate just before they open.

[Kristen]

If you see a particular colour you want to save, tie some coloured wool ( not green else you'll not find it) to the flower stem, lett it go to seed and then you'll know that this is the colour you want as they self pollenate just before they open.

Never knew that ... I spend a small fortune each year on colour-specific seed (because I don't want mixed colours). Usually the seedlings in the garden centre are cheaper than the seed I buy (and less trouble of course) - I stand there and count how any seedlings-per-pot and buy the pots with the most, how sad is that?!! but I can't be sure that the garden centre will have the varieties I want so I grow most of them myself.

If I can just keep seed from my own, and it will come "true", that will save a small fortune. Thanks for that.

[Flummery]

I've done this since I took over my allotment - Alec (RIP) had a lovely bicolour maroon and blue alongside his beans and I saved seeds. Like eating peas, they don't cross unless you make them!

[fruitylou]

[QUOTE=Jono;805918]
I'm getting married on June 18th, and we're trying to grow our own sweet peas for the day.QUOTE]

No tips to add but I think that will be lovely, good luck! I was just having a nose as I want a garden party for my sons 2nd birthday and want to grow them in time for that.

[Jono]

Thanks Lou. I've put them in, and they're doing okay. Fingers crossed from here!

[DLittlewood]

heres my sweetpea seedlings, they are about 1" high atm do I have to wait till they are 6" before planting out and should I pot them on in the meantime or are they ok in the modules? thanks Dena

[Flummery]

I'd leave them in the modules, pinch out at 6" then wait till they shoot again before platning out. But that's just me! Others will no doubt tell you differently.