They have a 'finite' period of time to grow and flower Mary, so if you want a longer season of flowers, you need to sow more than one lot.
It does depend on your conditions though. If it's cold in spring, they aren't going to grow on and thrive whether they've been sown in autumn, late winter, or in April/May. I don't bother sowing in autumn because the spring sown ones catch up anyway, and more often than not, are stronger, better plants. Even if I sow a little earlier than usual and have them in the cold frame, or a sheltered spot, they don't really grow quicker, but it's sometimes handy to do that and plant out a whole little pot with three or four seedlings in it. They'll last longer in the ground than in pots too - as long as the soil condition's right for them.
Obelixx - I think the 'full sun' thing is very misleading. Full sun here is probably more than warm enough for most of them. The white ones I had in an east facing border have been far better than the ones in the sunnier aspect. They get very little sun at all. All the same seed, all the same sizes of pots and conditions. All sown at the same time, and treated the same. The ones sitting in the border pot are still looking good. The ones in the southerly facing pots are done.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the feedback. Fairygirl I agree, my Spring grown plants in pots are finished but the ones in the border are still flowering even after their 'haircut'.
I am trying to have flowers in May and June this year, my garden (primarily flowering perennials and annuals) only started to come into flower late June early July. In saying that though it is now still full of flowers as I am a lethal dead-header, which I must cease and resist about now, as my plants never ever self seed as a result.
The only Spring bulbs I have success with are Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus etc. I have given up on as they never show a flower, very disappointing.
My garden is the same Mary370 - mainly annuals and perennials and still looking good, even though we have been away and not deadheaded for 3 weeks.....I have also decided that my garden is an summer/autumn one and don't worry too much about spring bulbs, except for the ones in pots. I have also decided to stick with perennial sweet peas for colour and just try a few annual sweetpeas when I can be bothered - very frustrating in my soil. 15 years, all different conditions tried, regular deadheading and still they die after July......ah well....can't win them all!
Just sown my first Autumn sweet peas (early Oct) and they are already about 18 inches and looking a bit straggly. Any ideas please what I should do? Can I can them back to say about 3 inches tall? Should I plant them out ? It rarely gets below -10 c here where I live just south of Horsham, West Sussex.
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They have a 'finite' period of time to grow and flower Mary, so if you want a longer season of flowers, you need to sow more than one lot.
It does depend on your conditions though. If it's cold in spring, they aren't going to grow on and thrive whether they've been sown in autumn, late winter, or in April/May. I don't bother sowing in autumn because the spring sown ones catch up anyway, and more often than not, are stronger, better plants. Even if I sow a little earlier than usual and have them in the cold frame, or a sheltered spot, they don't really grow quicker, but it's sometimes handy to do that and plant out a whole little pot with three or four seedlings in it. They'll last longer in the ground than in pots too - as long as the soil condition's right for them.
Obelixx - I think the 'full sun' thing is very misleading. Full sun here is probably more than warm enough for most of them. The white ones I had in an east facing border have been far better than the ones in the sunnier aspect. They get very little sun at all. All the same seed, all the same sizes of pots and conditions. All sown at the same time, and treated the same. The ones sitting in the border pot are still looking good. The ones in the southerly facing pots are done.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for the feedback. Fairygirl I agree, my Spring grown plants in pots are finished but the ones in the border are still flowering even after their 'haircut'.
I am trying to have flowers in May and June this year, my garden (primarily flowering perennials and annuals) only started to come into flower late June early July. In saying that though it is now still full of flowers as I am a lethal dead-header, which I must cease and resist about now, as my plants never ever self seed as a result.
The only Spring bulbs I have success with are Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus etc. I have given up on as they never show a flower, very disappointing.
My garden is the same Mary370 - mainly annuals and perennials and still looking good, even though we have been away and not deadheaded for 3 weeks.....I have also decided that my garden is an summer/autumn one and don't worry too much about spring bulbs, except for the ones in pots. I have also decided to stick with perennial sweet peas for colour and just try a few annual sweetpeas when I can be bothered - very frustrating in my soil. 15 years, all different conditions tried, regular deadheading and still they die after July......ah well....can't win them all!
Just sown my first Autumn sweet peas (early Oct) and they are already about 18 inches and looking a bit straggly. Any ideas please what I should do? Can I can them back to say about 3 inches tall? Should I plant them out ? It rarely gets below -10 c here where I live just south of Horsham, West Sussex.
18 inches is way too tall, if only sown in October.
have they got good light, are they in a warm place/
Put them somewhere cool , with good light and pinch a few inches off the tops.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border