Yes, I shall be trying the autumn plus spring sowing starting in October. I am still waiting for a sign of flowers on mine this year. Mind you, a little sun might encourage them but that is beyond any gardener's control!
Anyone know when the spring sown ones are likely to flower ? My first attempt this year . They are approx 3 ft high but now signs of any flowers yet . I was also advised to pinch out to make them bushier - hope this was the correct advice ! Think they are Spencer mix and they all seem to be growing well .
About another three weeks, Jean....depending on the weather of course.
David K your advice on sweetpeas is so interesting I live in the north of Scotland so have always done a spring sowing of seeds but for next year Im going to go wth October minus 12 thats amazingly low temps for them to survive.
Weejenny - I'm not sure about the extremes of you weather of course, but yes, they will cope with -12c without any problem.
Of course, if you over-winter them in a coldframe and temps more severe than say -12c are expected, all you need to do is throw a piece of old carpet over the frame.
Ever notice how the first sweet pea stems are very long,and gradually they get shorter in time !
Don - It's a fact that after the first flush of flowers, the stems do tend to get shorter. It helps if you remove the tendrils and grow quality seed from a sweet pea specialist, such as Eagle Sweet Peas.
Great! We need to nuture an interest in gardening in children. I always wish it had been done wih me, although I did watch my Dad - just wasn't allowed to touch anything. I'm a pensioner now, but if I had my time over again, I would try for horticultural college!
Great! We need to nuture an interest in gardening in children. I always wish it had been done wih me, although I did watch my Dad - just wasn't allowed to touch anything. I'm a pensioner now, but if I had my time over again, I would try for horticultural college!
I certainly would agree with that and do all I can in that respect, with visits to a local primary school helping with advice...the children are so interested and eager to learn.
Myself, I had had a wonderful introduction into gardening with my dad being an excellent gardener and my granddad being a head gardener for a large estate.
I could thin a bunch of grapes by the time I was twelve.
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Yes, I shall be trying the autumn plus spring sowing starting in October. I am still waiting for a sign of flowers on mine this year. Mind you, a little sun might encourage them but that is beyond any gardener's control!
About another three weeks, Jean....depending on the weather of course.
Weejenny - I'm not sure about the extremes of you weather of course, but yes, they will cope with -12c without any problem.
Of course, if you over-winter them in a coldframe and temps more severe than say -12c are expected, all you need to do is throw a piece of old carpet over the frame.
Don - It's a fact that after the first flush of flowers, the stems do tend to get shorter. It helps if you remove the tendrils and grow quality seed from a sweet pea specialist, such as Eagle Sweet Peas.
David K, thanks for that Ive got carpet Ill do that
Oh, goodness me. Still, life is one big learning curve, for you and your daughter! I hope you were able to laugh about it later (after the tears).
Great! We need to nuture an interest in gardening in children. I always wish it had been done wih me, although I did watch my Dad - just wasn't allowed to touch anything. I'm a pensioner now, but if I had my time over again, I would try for horticultural college!
I certainly would agree with that and do all I can in that respect, with visits to a local primary school helping with advice...the children are so interested and eager to learn.
Myself, I had had a wonderful introduction into gardening with my dad being an excellent gardener and my granddad being a head gardener for a large estate.
I could thin a bunch of grapes by the time I was twelve.