Sweet Peas

[ancee]

Hi guys, our sweet peas are coming through and I'd like to start picking them for the house. Monty says keep picking them and they'll keep flowering, if you don't pick them they stop flowering. So, my question is, should I pick them all? Or, pick a few and leave some? If I leave some will they stop flowering and start producing seeds? How often is "keep picking" - every time one pops up - or wait a few days? I have a little posy on my desk as I type this and their scent is filling the room!

[Bren In Pots]

I pick my sweet peas every evening so that the insects benefit from them first, then by morning there's more that have opened over night.

[Martin H]

I pick all the ones where the last flower is opening or already open. The plants look a bit empty, but because I'm usually picking them in the evening after work there are always some new ones in the morning like BiP says.

[Bigmallly]

If you accidently miss any & they turn to seed, bonus, seed for next year.

[rustylady]

Mine are at the allotment, and I've been cutting them every other day.

Have a fresh bunch in here at the moment and the scent is heavenly.

Like Mally said, if you don't cut them they set seed - that's when the plant stops making new flowers cos it's done it's job.

[stella]

I have stopped picking mine now so that they set seeds ready to start again for next year. I find if I leave them to dry out on the stalk they really fatten up.

[zazen999]

I pick them all and usually leave the last few on for seeds, you can tell as the plants start to lose a bit of oomph.

[jacq]

I pick my sweet peas every evening so that the insects benefit from them first, then by morning there's more that have opened over night.

i have got loads of pods on my sweet peas will these be the seeds for next year as this is the 1st time i have grown them

[rustylady]

i have got loads of pods on my sweet peas will these be the seeds for next year as this is the 1st time i have grown them

Yes they will jacq, but I pick my sweet pea blooms constantly so they don't form pods until later in the year. Now you have let them form pods the flowers will slow down or stop as the plant thinks it's fulfilled its purpose.

If you want to save the seed you need to leave the pods on the plants till they are dry and crispy.

[jacq]

oh dear i didnt no that i wondered why they had slowed down well will no for next year thanks

[rustylady]

Jacq you could try cutting all the pods off, there's plenty of time for the plants to produce more flowers.

[Two_Sheds]

Monty says keep picking them ... my question is, should I pick them all? Or, pick a few and leave some?

Pick them! Don't leave them

I didn't pick for 3 days and the bladdy plants have now gone to seed

[rustylady]

Pick the pods off quick TwoSheds.