This year I followed some of Carol Klein's advice, that I'd seen on GW. Sowed in April, then potted them on when they started to fill their pots and planted them out beginning of June. They were the best plants I've ever put in and they raced away. They were looking really good when the heatwave struck. I struggled to keep them watered and they just sat there, doing nothing. Thought I'd blown it completely, but when it got a bit cooler they eventually began to flower. They never made it to the top of their canes but they continued flowering until last week and that is without deadheading, as I am hoping to collect some seeds! I will certainly do it again next year but maybe try for some earlier ones grown the old way too
I start them indoors, then move to a cold greenhouse before hardening off, but I'm higher and probably windier and colder than where you are @Plantminded. A cold frame or just a sheltered spot might work for you, if you don't have mice. Even in the GH I have to take preventive measures or they eat all the seeds and just leave the stalks!
I'd echo @Buttercupdays' post @Plantminded. I rarely sow sweet peas until April. Our season is later here, so they don't really get going until May/June, so it's rarely worthwhile. Having said that, I sowed some that I'd collected from this year's plants, and they're just down by the back door, under a small table. I was probably bored and just decided to do them one day They'll need nipped out if they're sown in autumn, and put on a decent bit of growth, and that makes bushier, sturdier plants for putting out in spring. I might do them a bit earlier [March] as B'cup says, but they would be on the windowsill, and then put outside once they were a few inches, just with basic shelter. Most people tend to cosset them far too much, and that leads to poor results. They're very, very tough, and only need basic protection from the roughest weather. I replied to someone the other day who was asking about sowing them, but I don't think they've responded. It's probably several pages down the list by now. I said more or less the same to them.
I'd also echo the comments about heat and cooler weather. All the info suggests full sun for them, but with many areas having such extreme heat/dry conditions, I'd recommend finding a semi shaded spot instead. They don't last nearly so long if they get hot and dry. Even here, the pots I have in the sunnier sites can struggle a little bit. They need lots of water [and food] 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...
Thank you very much for your detailed reply @Fairygirl, very helpful as always! I think you're right, I kept them cossetted indoors for too long. I'll try sowing in late March and follow your advice. Have you got any favourites that you could recommend please, I noticed you mentioned Roosterville in an earlier post. I've previously grown Cupani.
Cupani is always reliable, but is smaller. I've not growing it for a few years, but it's always been a favourite of mine. Along with Matucana, which is one of the original varieties, they're good plants, and very similar. Beaujolais is a very reliable purple variety too, and I've collected seed from mine. I mainly grow purples, or deep pinks, and cream/whites. I grew one called Dr. Uvedale this year [a rich purple] which has been really good. I've collected loads of seed too. I found R'ville a bit iffy for germination, and I can't get any viable pods, so I've just ordered some more as I really liked it. If you fancy some of Dr. U, let me know and I'll put some in the post for you. This is fairly accurate for colour.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Have never sown them indoors. I usually do some now frost free green house, another lot in the spring . I only pinch them out once.They are hardy annuals ,does depend where you live of course. Here they could be planted out in April.What I can get away with in East Sussex, wouldn't work for Fairy.
That's the reason @Nanny Beach - it's rarely worth sowing sweet peas here now, because spring sown seed catches up. They really don't start growing readily until later May or early June, so we don't get flowering until end of July, sometimes a little sooner, if conditions are very favourable.
Apologies to @Ken carter as we've wandered a bit from your initial query. The overriding factors for seed sowing of any kind are - climate and location. It also depends on the plant - some need cold stratification. Sow too early, with additional heat, and then you need somewhere to grow them on until they can go outdoors. For tender or half hardy plants, that can be a fair old time. If you have a lot of seed sown, you need to think of the room they take up when pricked out and potted on. If you're using windowsills that can be tricky! When I started gardening, I used to fail miserably with various seeds, because what works well in the south of England doesn't work here. The climate and also light levels, can make a very big difference to the success. That applies to various other areas too. East and west are also completely different, so if in doubt, wait a little bit longer to sow.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I rarely sow sweet peas until April. Our season is later here, so they don't really get going until May/June, so it's rarely worthwhile. Having said that, I sowed some that I'd collected from this year's plants, and they're just down by the back door, under a small table. I was probably bored and just decided to do them one day
They'll need nipped out if they're sown in autumn, and put on a decent bit of growth, and that makes bushier, sturdier plants for putting out in spring.
I might do them a bit earlier [March] as B'cup says, but they would be on the windowsill, and then put outside once they were a few inches, just with basic shelter. Most people tend to cosset them far too much, and that leads to poor results. They're very, very tough, and only need basic protection from the roughest weather.
I replied to someone the other day who was asking about sowing them, but I don't think they've responded. It's probably several pages down the list by now. I said more or less the same to them.
I'd also echo the comments about heat and cooler weather. All the info suggests full sun for them, but with many areas having such extreme heat/dry conditions, I'd recommend finding a semi shaded spot instead. They don't last nearly so long if they get hot and dry. Even here, the pots I have in the sunnier sites can struggle a little bit. They need lots of water [and food] to do well
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I grew one called Dr. Uvedale this year [a rich purple] which has been really good. I've collected loads of seed too. I found R'ville a bit iffy for germination, and I can't get any viable pods, so I've just ordered some more as I really liked it.
If you fancy some of Dr. U, let me know and I'll put some in the post for you. This is fairly accurate for colour.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Apologies to @Ken carter as we've wandered a bit from your initial query.
The overriding factors for seed sowing of any kind are - climate and location. It also depends on the plant - some need cold stratification.
Sow too early, with additional heat, and then you need somewhere to grow them on until they can go outdoors. For tender or half hardy plants, that can be a fair old time. If you have a lot of seed sown, you need to think of the room they take up when pricked out and potted on. If you're using windowsills that can be tricky!
When I started gardening, I used to fail miserably with various seeds, because what works well in the south of England doesn't work here. The climate and also light levels, can make a very big difference to the success. That applies to various other areas too. East and west are also completely different, so if in doubt, wait a little bit longer to sow.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...