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What type of support do sweet peas require?

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  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    edited May 2021
    @bertrand-mabel
    Based  on what I am reading on here,I am starting to think twice now about these perennial sweet peas. If I am not careful I will end up with more hassle than pleasure.

    When I orginally got the idea, I was not aware of the vast difference in growth  from the annual variety.  I already have far more to do than I can cope with.

    It is good that you people are putting me right. Anyway, nothing has been sown yet. There are 20 seeds on the way.

     I will dip my toe and just sow one seed. If it becomes a hassle I can alway pull it out. Hope it doesn't grow like that weed with the mass of white roots. Is it bind weed I am referring to?


  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    edited May 2021
    @Dovefromabove
    I fully agree with your thoughts on the 'hard cut back'. When I moved here in 1991, the 5 trunks were   3 or 4 inches in diameter. The house was built in '53.

    I removed a massive root a few years ago as nothing was growing  around it - as is often the case. I have bulbs there now. I will dig out the photos of the root extraction.

    What if I placed a suitable sized container in the center of the trunks, just sat there. I could try just one in there?
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    Here are some photos of root removal over two years ago.






  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    I thought so, it definitely looks as if there was an established tree there which was cut down ... I think I prefer my trees to be decorated with moss and ferns (and even fungi) growing direct on and around the bole, rather than putting a container in there, which is going to look so unnatural.  Plant ferns around the tree and they'll eventually spread into that centre area and it'll look enchanting ... and possibly enchanted too.  

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just plant your perennial peas [once you have some growing well in pots] somewhere near the tree. Guide with canes or similar towards it so that it can scramble through and up it. Make sure it's well watered until established. 
    You may need to attach it a little - which might not be easy. Perhaps some chicken wire or similar round the bottom for the first few feet. May work, may not, as there aren't any visible side branches or points for it to wrap round.
    If nothing else, it'll scramble around the bottom and cover the trunks a bit. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I’m another who definitely would not put a plant pot in that space between the trunks. I think it would look awful.
    Rutland, England
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Climbing roses then! They ft grow like weeds,most things need some work,no magic fairy
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    I thought so, it definitely looks as if there was an established tree there which was cut down ... 
    What are you seeing  that  makes  you think that Dove?

     The root I severed from this tree was near the surface,  but was quite large in diameter.

     I dug down and drilled a hole through the side enabling me to thread the rope through.  I sawed and hacked with an axe  leaving a shorter piece of root in the ground. Then I hoisted it up. This left the cavity where I had pulled the root from. 

    I did this work myself. No one else  was there.

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