Hi, I'm new here and a rather novice gardener too. I'm wondering if someone could advise ? I've grown lots of sweet peas from seed this year. The seeds were sown around May time. I've noticed that on a few of the plants some of the leaves look as though they haven't quite developed properly at the ends and the ends look a bit crispy. It's not all the leaves on the plants and it's not all the plants. They have formed buds in the last two days so I think the plant is healthy but I don't know what has caused this.
I'm not able to do that because I can't post one from my phone. I'll have to ask my daughter if I can borrow her laptop, but you know what teenagers are like !
I've never grown sweet peas before and only took up gardening this year, so still learning and finding my feet! I started my garden from scratch, clearing everything from ground elder, bricks, carpets in the lawn!.....don't ask?!?! Anyway, once cleared I started growing things that I actually wanted in the garden. I'm going for a country cottage style garden even though I live in the middle of Ipswich. I'm from a village originally so it helps me feel at home to have nature and wildlife around.
So now I get to the point.... I hear you are the man in the know when it comes to sweet peas!
And I wanted to show my very first to an expert! Its the sweetest, strongest scent and I'm chuffed to bits! But any pointers are welcome with thanks!
Well done wonky, I've only been gardening a couple of years too, we're in Sheffield and I' same as you, both front and back gardens very cottage country style, had loads of fab advice here,lots from your mum you lucky thing!! With David's advice I've grown fairly good sweet peas, and they do make me so happy!picked first one of the year today!
Thanks Rosemummy lovely you picked your first of the year too! Need to get a single stem vase for the first one next time, I wasn't prepared! Got a friend giving me some oasis so going to make an arrangement when I have enough!
They are a great bunch of people here aren't they! So helpful and encouraging! Hope David likes my sweet pea efforts
Yes, I did know Dove is your ma...I think I acknowledged that in my welcome post when you joined the forum......bet she's a top mum!
Love your pink sweet pea.
Generally the dark coloured sweet peas have the strongest scent and the best of all (and still available) is a variety named 'Cupani', named after a Sicilian monk by the name of Cupani who sent the seed of the wild sweet pea to Robert Uvedale of Enfield more than 300 years ago, and from this all our modern varieties are descended.
Sadly, as with many other flowers, hybridisation has resulted in some loss of scent, but most growers will recommend and supply varieties with scent as a priority.
Personally my own preference is for them to look good and scent is a secondary consideration.....this is from a show bench point of view, rather than for cut flowers, of course.
Hi David, thanks for your response Dove is indeed a lovely and knowledgeable ma to have! Hopefully I'm learning from her and all of you here!
Cupani, OK that's written in my little book! I do love the scent, I think the scent is equally important to me as I find beautiful perfumes alter my mood, (for the better!)
This year I have a bamboo obelisk that they are growing up but I think I may want to try a different technique as they have become a bit tangled!
Thanks for your advice and I will be popping in on this thread to pick brains!
Of course, like everyone I love the smell they bring to a room as cut flowers, but generally speaking, those grown for exhibition (although perfect specimens & stunning to the eye) are often less fragrant.
Maybe worth saying that in a survey carried out a few years ago, sweet peas were voted the nations second favourite flower. after the rose....I love growing both.
Hi David and Wonky, I sowed cupani, can't wait to smell it! I cut just sp's 3 the other day (blue velvet) there are LOADS of buds on my sweet pes and my roses, just waiting to flower at the weekend when we're away!!! David, last year you started a 'growing roses' thread, I found it helpful but have the memory of a gnat, would love you to pop up a few bits of timely advice, I still get so confused especially with feeding ( sorry I know this is the sweet pea thread, I got distracted!)
Posts
Welcome to the forum, horseygirl.
Difficult to give a definitive answer to your query without seeing a pic, it would be useful if you could post one.
Hello David, I'm the daughter of Dovefromabove,
I've never grown sweet peas before and only took up gardening this year, so still learning and finding my feet! I started my garden from scratch, clearing everything from ground elder, bricks, carpets in the lawn!.....don't ask?!?! Anyway, once cleared I started growing things that I actually wanted in the garden. I'm going for a country cottage style garden even though I live in the middle of Ipswich. I'm from a village originally so it helps me feel at home to have nature and wildlife around.
So now I get to the point....
I hear you are the man in the know when it comes to sweet peas! 
And I wanted to show my very first to an expert! Its the sweetest, strongest scent and I'm chuffed to bits! But any pointers are welcome with thanks!
Well done wonky, I've only been gardening a couple of years too, we're in Sheffield and I' same as you, both front and back gardens very cottage country style, had loads of fab advice here,lots from your mum you lucky thing!! With David's advice I've grown fairly good sweet peas, and they do make me so happy!picked first one of the year today!
Thanks Rosemummy
lovely you picked your first of the year too! Need to get a single stem vase for the first one next time, I wasn't prepared! Got a friend giving me some oasis so going to make an arrangement when I have enough!
They are a great bunch of people here aren't they! So helpful and encouraging! Hope David likes my sweet pea efforts
Hi, Wonky
Yes, I did know Dove is your ma...I think I acknowledged that in my welcome post when you joined the forum......bet she's a top mum!
Love your pink sweet pea.
Generally the dark coloured sweet peas have the strongest scent and the best of all (and still available) is a variety named 'Cupani', named after a Sicilian monk by the name of Cupani who sent the seed of the wild sweet pea to Robert Uvedale of Enfield more than 300 years ago, and from this all our modern varieties are descended.
Sadly, as with many other flowers, hybridisation has resulted in some loss of scent, but most growers will recommend and supply varieties with scent as a priority.
Personally my own preference is for them to look good and scent is a secondary consideration.....this is from a show bench point of view, rather than for cut flowers, of course.
Hi David, thanks for your response
Dove is indeed a lovely and knowledgeable ma to have! Hopefully I'm learning from her and all of you here!
Cupani, OK that's written in my little book!
I do love the scent, I think the scent is equally important to me as I find beautiful perfumes alter my mood, (for the better!)
This year I have a bamboo obelisk that they are growing up but I think I may want to try a different technique as they have become a bit tangled!
Thanks for your advice and I will be popping in on this thread to pick brains!
Have a lovely day
Wonky - Just to clarify where I am with SP scent.
Of course, like everyone I love the smell they bring to a room as cut flowers, but generally speaking, those grown for exhibition (although perfect specimens & stunning to the eye) are often less fragrant.
Maybe worth saying that in a survey carried out a few years ago, sweet peas were voted the nations second favourite flower. after the rose....I love growing both.
Hi David and Wonky, I sowed cupani, can't wait to smell it! I cut just sp's 3 the other day (blue velvet) there are LOADS of buds on my sweet pes and my roses, just waiting to flower at the weekend when we're away!!! David, last year you started a 'growing roses' thread, I found it helpful but have the memory of a gnat, would love you to pop up a few bits of timely advice, I still get so confused especially with feeding ( sorry I know this is the sweet pea thread, I got distracted!)