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Sweet Peas

KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
in Plants
First time growing Sweet Peas for show.  They are currently very long and leggy and trailing along the ground. 

Should I cut them back a lot? Do I train them up a cane? How much do I pinch them out, to encourage more flowers?

Posts

  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    I am not sure about for show, but I always pinch mine out once about 3 or 4 pairs of leaves are growing. I don't find canes much use for sweetpeas and have more success with wire/netting/obelisk that give the tendrils more to hold onto. I think I read somewhere that if you cut the tendrils off they put more energy into the flowers (but I might be imaging this).
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Lots of info. on growing sweet peas for showing here http://www.sweetpeas.org.uk/hints-on-growing/
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you're growing for showing, it's a different process. You have to remove all the tendrils and tie in all the time to get straight stems. That's a very important part of the end result.  
    They can't be grown without supports, whether for showing or not. Certainly for showing, you need one per cane, or you need a proper construction with suitable netting,  and they need a lot more attention than they would for ordinary cultivation. Loads of food and water either way to get good flowering too. 
    If they're not already being supported, I'd forget those and sow more, although they might not be ready in time. The ones you have won't be viable as they'll already be distorted. I would doubt if you pinched them out [which would be the normal process to create a bushier plant]  you'd get a good result, although if you do that now, some of the side shoots might be ok to develop. You really want big, single stems with a flower. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Thanks everyone, especially for the detail @Fairygirl  I must admit I find it a bit of a faff, so probably won't grow them again.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lovely for your own garden, and not too difficult, but growing to show is a lot of effort. I've been involved in enough showing of a different kind to last me a lifetime, so it's not something I'd ever do with plants  :)
    A large pot of them isn't difficult, but they need a good soil mix, plenty of food and water, and regular deadheading.  :)
    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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