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Sweet peas

dianalindendianalinden Posts: 4
in Problem solving
My sweet peas which were a huge success last year are just not flowering. About 8ft tall lots of foliage. Have done exactly the same as last year. Grateful for any suggestions?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a photo?
    What care are they getting, and how are they planted - ground or pots?
    They need lots of food and water, and especially food which encourages flowering - slow release granules or tomato food.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • dianalindendianalinden Posts: 4
    Here is photo! As you can see very leafy. They are planted in mulch from anaerobic digester. Did start to flower and now just have pathetic yellowing buds
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've no experience of the mulch you describe, but there's a lot of plants there for such a shallow bed, even if they have access to soil below.
    I doubt there's enough moisture and food for them, hence the buds not producing flowers. It's easy to underestimate just how much of both they need to do well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • dianalindendianalinden Posts: 4
    Here they are this time last year in a shallower bed? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Are they being watered regularly - and fed though? Is the medium you're growing them in a good source of food? You have to take into account the climate and conditions, as that can vary year to year too. 
    Ideally, a layer of rotted manure, topped with good quality compost, is the best growing medium. Then extra food for flowering plants as they near flowering, and throughout their season, or slow release food [loads of types available ] added at the start. 
    I use good soil in the bottom of pots, plus compost, and slow release granules on planting, then use tomato food later in the season once that's used up. They're watered every couple of days, even if we have rain regularly, which is pretty standard here. The rain doesn't penetrate well once they get a good bit of foliage.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • dianalindendianalinden Posts: 4
    I have an automatic irrigation system. I think it might be the weather? Hot then cold then hot. How are your sweetpeas doing this year? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Mine are fine - the two dark ones have been flowering for a few days, and the whites have just had a flower appear today. We wouldn't expect them to flower until July or so anyway here where I am, but they'll continue until October at least, when the weather gets them.
    They're half the height of yours though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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