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Something in our sweet peas

joepatrjoepatr Posts: 23
in Problem solving
Hi all

First time here so please excuse if this is in the wrong forum. 

When we set out our sweet pea seeds earlier in the year (bought from a shop in a sealed packet), and once they started coming out I noticed a few of the seedlings had a very different look to what I would normally expect. 

I thought I’d keep a few out of my own curiosity to see what they’d turn in to, and attached are the photos of some of the flowers and leaves, as you can see very different flowers and leaves, but similar in terms of colours to sweet peas. 

Can anyone help me with identifying what these are? 

Many thanks. 


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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's a vetch.
    Do all the plants look like that, or only some? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • joepatrjoepatr Posts: 23
    Fairygirl said:
    It's a vetch.
    Do all the plants look like that, or only some? 
    Only some, maybe 5%. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They've obviously been mixed in. It's possibly worth mentioning to the place you got them, if you can.
    Annoying if you've made a display assuming they're going to be sweet peas, although I love the little wild vetches.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I've had Vetch mixed in with my sweet peas this year too
  • HippophaeHippophae Posts: 154
    How peculiar. Another mix up - accidental or deliberate.
  • joepatrjoepatr Posts: 23
    My seeds were from Wilko. 

    Normally with happy with them for the price, especially with their germination guarantee. 

    Thanks for for the replies everyone, maybe I might ping them a tweet or something. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Vetch seeds look almost identical to sweet pea seeds so I suspect the suppliers have some vetch growing in their seed crops (ie fields full of sweet peas which are just grown to produce seed.)  Being the same family, vetch would be very difficult to spot when growing in such a situation and there would be zero chance of any machine sorting them out after the field is harvested for the seeds.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • fleurshawW4OVHQwvfleurshawW4OVHQwv Posts: 2
    Very helpful post. I wondered what was growing in my sweet pea pots. I also got my seeds from Wilko!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's why I never buy my sweet pea seed from any outlet other than a reputable supplier!
    This thread was from 2019, so did you still have the problem last year with yours @fleurshawW4OVHQwv?  If so, it might be worth contacting Wilko, if this is still happening. A right pain when you're expecting some nice scent in summer   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Vetches are sometimes used as a green manure, and if they’re allowed to set seed before turning into the soil, it can set up problems for the future. 🙄 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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