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Sweet peas in furry loo rolls!

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
edited March 2018 in The potting shed
Hi, I sowed my sweet peas indoors in loo roll middles and they are growing ok, a little leggy but I have been stroking them to make them sturdy, and I have now put them on a much cooler windowsill. I am concerned about the furry white fungus growing round the cardboard and can see why it has grown - right conditions really - but wonder if it is hazardous to the seedlings.
The forecast this week is much milder, even at night, so I'm hoping to start getting them outside for a while each day, probably in the greenhouse. I know there are loads of sweet pea threads but my main concern is the furry stuff so if anyone can advise I would be grateful.

NB I've only just realised this has gone into the wrong discussion area but I don't know how to change that as its my first post in the new look forum!


No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    Mine grow furry stuff, just like yours, every year - never seems to harm them so I just ignore it  :D
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    So do mine, don't think it matters.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    These are my kind of replies!  :D
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Mine too for the hairy bits.

    Have to say yours look a bit thin and leggy so probably a good idea to pinch them out and encourage them to bush up. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Depending where you live on the globe, I get my Sweet Peas from Roger Parsons, he says treat them mean, I did sow them in a cold greenhouse, them they went outside, heat will make them tender and leggy.  he says dont pinch them out, so this year is the first year I havent pinch.  Have just sowed a further couple of packets.They are underneath a potting bench so they dont get too wet.
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    I germinate them indoors beginning of March, but then shove them straight out in the cold frame. Came a cropper this year when everything froze rock solid, but at least half survived, which suggests sweet pea seedlings are as tough as old boots.
    I also pinch out the tops regularly to get nice stocky plants
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    To pinch or not to pinch....I watched an old GW from May last year or even the year before (too busy gardening to watch at the time!!) and Monty was just embarking on an experiment with his sweet peas, pinching out half and leaving half just to grow normally
    The pinched out ones should bush out and the others will grow taller, probably with fewer flowers, but critically for me, they should flower sooner. 
    Last year's sweet peas didn't flower very well and I pinched them out. As we are in the frozen north I'm thinking of doing the same experiment. I guess I should watch the rest of the series to see how Monty's plants fared, but I do like a bit of suspence!  :o 
    I might just take Nanny Beach's advice and sow some more straight in the greenhouse as well 
    Gardening - one of life's great adventures!  
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    @Stephanie newish gardener 
    Completely off topic but how has your garden recovered from the dreadful flooding last year? It sounds all very positive so far.  :) Fingers crossed for you.
  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
    Hi plant pauper, thanks for asking. It took ages to recover even though the garden was only under water for about 4 hours. That was mainly because so much was set back - all the weeding and planting I had planned just went out of the window due to the amount of clearing up, and not just in the garden. To the casual observer it probably all looked OK but it certainly wasn't what I had hoped for 
    Just now i'm feeling like the garden is a huge task and i'm already behind, but i'm aiming to be realistic about what is feasible this year and try to be relaxed when things don't get done. With any luck I will be made redundant this year (happy about that) and then I will have the time to really make a difference out there  :)
    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • Logan4Logan4 Posts: 2,590
    Yes the loo rolls will get fur on them but they will be alright, mine's the same.
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