need advice on sweet peas

[bravo2zero]

Already my sweet peas are getting near to the top of their wigwams at 7ft. I have been cutting them for 4 weeks now and need to know what to do to prolong their flowering. I have heard of a technique called layering but have not seen a diagram of what this involves, please help.

[rustylady]

Layering involves cutting the support system of the plants,laying the plants on the ground and then training them up the next suitable support. I'm not sure this would work with wigwams. It does work with continuous rows. Try doing a google search for diagrams, or if you have an old Readers Digest Gardening Year Encyclopaedia that has diagrams. Good luck.

[nick the grief]

Hi B2Z,

You won't really be able to layer yours as they are up a wigwam. Ideally you should grow them up a double row and as they grow you remove the tendril and tie them up to the supports with soft wire clips. When they get to the top you take all the clips off and lay them on the ground and then start tieing them back up to a support that is futher down the line so that they are towards the bottom of the support again.

Like this

[Alice]

Hello Bravo2Zero, if all you are trying to do is keep your sweet peas flowering then just keep cutting the flowers. The more you cut the more you will get. Never let them go to seed or they will give in. They can take a bit of keeping up with. How many vases do you have.

[bravo2zero]

Thanks everybody. Judging by your explanations i will struggle to layer them properly. I have 3 wigwams in a row about a foot apart so might be able to do it in a fashion if i sacrifice the middle plants. Next year they are going in rows

[Benacre]

dont bother layering them just keep picking the flowers.

[bravo2zero]

Just been on the National Sweet Pea Societies web site and there is an explanation of layering on there. I also think i planted them too close at two seeds per rootrainer and left them too it without controlling the side shoots.My original concern was that they would reach the top of the wigwams and snap over.

[nick the grief]

Thanks everybody. Judging by your explanations i will struggle to layer them properly. I have 3 wigwams in a row about a foot apart so might be able to do it in a fashion if i sacrifice the middle plants. Next year they are going in rows

Just been on the National Sweet Pea Societies web site and there is an explanation of layering on there. I also think i planted them too close at two seeds per rootrainer and left them too it without controlling the side shoots.My original concern was that they would reach the top of the wigwams and snap over.

If you are serious about growing sweet peas get hold of a copy of

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SWEET PEAS by BERNARD R. JONES

It is the bible for sweetpea growing for any reason cutflower or showing. If you look on the NSPS website and click on items for sale it is there £10 or try e-bay you may get it cheaper

[Alice]

Why do you want to layer them Bravo2zero. If you just want flowers, just keep cutting them.

[daisychook]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have grown sweet peas and havent picked any for about a week, now they are turning to pea pods ??? Can I do anything about this??
Thanks Daisy

[roitelet]

Hi daisychook, you need to go over all the plants and remove ALL the seed pods and then you may get some more flowers. If you do, pick them every two days and DON'T let any of the flowers produce seed. That should keep them flowering.

Best of luck

[nick the grief]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I have grown sweet peas and havent picked any for about a week, now they are turning to pea pods ??? Can I do anything about this??
Thanks Daisy

When it get to the back end tie some coloured wool round the stems of the flowers you like the smell/colour of and let them go to seed then when they are dry, cut them and stick them in a paper bacg and then you can shook them like normal peas & save your own seed. If you want ot keep the colours seperate put them in individual bags then envelopes and write the colour & year on the front - You'll never have to buy sweetpea seeds again

[mellonmellow]

Hello Bravo2Zero, if all you are trying to do is keep your sweet peas flowering then just keep cutting the flowers. The more you cut the more you will get. Never let them go to seed or they will give in. They can take a bit of keeping up with. How many vases do you have.

Really, is that the trick? Thanks.