How not to kill a perennial sweet pea

[WendyC]

I have tried several times to establish a perennial sweet pea in the garden to scramble up the fence. I have tried around 4 times only for them to gradually fade away. One website described them as "thugs" but not in my garden. I am trying to grow in a sheltered south facing garden against an East facing fence. The soil is clay, much improved with years and years of garden compost. I have bought a lovely healthy plant from the garden centre, again, but am trying to get this one to grow. I thought I'd try Rootgrow this time but not sure what else to try. Ideas please!

[veggiechicken]

Sorry Wendy but mine are thugs They're growing in the worst imaginable places - very little soil, battling it out with honeysuckle, roses and grapevines, but every year they come back for more.. Maybe you're being too kind to yours.

[Alison]

I grew mine many years ago from some seeds saved from my great aunt's garden. They took quite a few years to establish properly and were rather weedy for about 3 years but are now indestructable so are you sure you're giving them enough time?

[mothhawk]

Mine was a thug too, and when I finally decided it had to go - it had roots like a tree. I had to dig a three foot trench and lift 2 paving slabs to lever it out!

[WendyC]

They took quite a few years to establish properly and were rather weedy for about 3 years but are now indestructible so are you sure you're giving them enough time?

I'm interested to hear a bit weedy to start with but I can't give them any more time they just fade away and never reappear after the winter! Having read about the monsters everyone else has I'm not sure I want to unleash it in the garden. Going to give it one more try. Has confirmed I'm not wrong about position etc. Fingers crossed!

[Alison]

Are you buying plants or sowing seeds? I don't think I've ever seen plants of the perennial ones (although never looked to be honest).

[WendyC]

I've tried both! Bought a new plant last week, yet to plant but also have some seeds. Might end up like sleeping beauty's castle!

[Gearoid]

I've had three in the garden growing up a 2m x 2m bit of trellis for about fifteen/twenty years and they've never been thuggish here (light, sandy soil). I've failed to look after them all this time, never fed nor watered them but they pop back each year, do their job and then die back.

I got mine as plants at a boot sale, but maybe you could try growing them from seed next time?

I don't find them thugs at all, they're rather charming and well behaved in my plot.

[~kirsty~]

Which varieties are perennial? I think the ones I'm growing are annuals... cheapo seeds from a cheapo store so didn't bother to check.

[veggiechicken]

They're almost certainly annuals, kirsty

[bearded bloke]

IIRC Whyvale have an offer on for perennial sweet pea plants,think it was 2 for 1 or some such but I shredded the letter already

[Alison]

I've had three in the garden growing up a 2m x 2m bit of trellis for about fifteen/twenty years and they've never been thuggish here (light, sandy soil). I've failed to look after them all this time, never fed nor watered them but they pop back each year, do their job and then die back.

I got mine as plants at a boot sale, but maybe you could try growing them from seed next time?

I don't find them thugs at all, they're rather charming and well behaved in my plot.

The way you describe the fact that they're growing in less than ideal soil with no attention of care would define them as thugs to me, they don't have to take over to be very tough.

[WendyC]

IIRC Whyvale have an offer on for perennial sweet pea plants,think it was 2 for 1 or some such but I shredded the letter already

Funnily enough it was a Wyevale I got them from. Didn't use the offer, price reduction for 2, as I only wanted one. Do you think I should have got two so I have replacement when I've killed this one!!!