Hello all David, you are VERY patient! However in Rosemummy's defence, most seedlings would get killed by frost with the minority not doing and I must admit to being a bit anxious too. However, mine have been planted out for a week or so now and we have had 3 nights of frost, and they are doing really well.......so it goes to show David is right (which we knew all along, it was ourselves we were doubting!!).
thanks david and orchid lady! it's when one is a novice that cinofidence is low david i have been leaving lids on overnight, more to keep slugs away as haven't had time to prepare deterrants they'll go in at weekend if i'm allowed a couple of hours, i do hope i've cleared 2nd site eonough dug up big lump of crocosmia and some daisy type flowers that flowered august overtaken large area ended up on my bum a few times roots are ling and deep hope i've got enough out to allow sps to flower properly
Tracey & Louise - believe me, I do understand how confusing it must be to absorb all these do's & don'ts of gardening. Unfortunately sweet peas is one of your choices that will be totally ruined by too much TLC. In fact, cold frost is their friend......it makes them strong and robust. I also understand that you may want to figure things out for yourselves and succeed through trial & error and we have all done that.
As for my 'help'....all I can say is that I've being doing this on these forums now for about the past 10 years and have had many messages of thanks from people who have succeeded where they had previously failed.
A couple of years ago while visiting a sweet pea exhibition, a lady (who knew I would be there) took the trouble to visit the Eagle SP stand and ask the owner if he had seen me as she would like to say hello. Derek (Mr Eagle) found me and introduced us.
We had a cup of tea together, had a good chat and she thanked me for all the help I had given her & others......how nice was that.
A few of my sweet peas, coming along nicely on the veg patch, I have them all round this 'quarter'. I will be putting some netting up next weekend for them
Just twigged that OL is you, Tracey! I would have put my netting up first. I did like you a couple of yrs ago, then trod on some when the dog barked beside me and gave me a fright! Most recovered eventually, but I was so mad!
I have done two batches (didn't get time to do all at once), in deep paper pots. I germinated the first batch on heated prop at end of feb, then slung them straight into cold frame. Wide open in day, then partly open at night as the wind tried to wreck the top a couple of times! They are now nearly ready to pinch out. Last batch I did last wk in cold conservatory, as no room left in prop. They are slower in showing me any shoots, but I'm sure they will soon. All going out as soon as tall enough. Thinking of taking the first lot out of the frame tomorrow, as need the space.
Incidentally, I have some spare fuchsias in the frame too, that weren't so great last year, but showed some better growth later on. I put them in the frame over winter (the better ones got mollycoddled in the GH), and although supposed to be tender ones, they are just as happy as the SP's and, caulis and young strawberries. They have thrived from neglect, so perhaps we spoil too many of our plants? I have also moved my toms into the GH this wk, and they seem to be doing fine with a propagator top on at night. (the GH is bubble-wrapped)
So, David, I am treating most of my plants meaner this yr. I think many can stand more cold than we are led to believe, provided kept dry and out of nasty cold winds.
Hi Jeannie, sorry I'm confusing everyone, I did put a thread on saying
My netting will just get staple to the fencing so should be ok....I hope, and the hounds aren't allowed on the veg patch, they will just sit on the other side if the fence looking at me
that's nice david, always nice to know you're appreciated..you are!! def planting out this weekend want sites well prepared, got bean sticks,grit and slug pubsready, love the pistachio nut tip, will get some and scoff them asap!
You've added a ickle twig-stake to each of your plants and even tied them....now that's dedication. When I suggested twiggy bits, I thinking of *bushy twiggy bits. However, it has to be said that they're looking much better than when they were in the garage.
*Silver birch are good.
Thinking about it, this coddling (as I call it) seems to be a woman maternal thing.
PS, Looking more closely, perhaps they weren't tied.
You've added a ickle twig-stake to each of your plants and even tied them....now that's dedication. When I suggested twiggy bits, I thinking of *bushy twiggy bits. However, it has to be said that they're looking much better than when they were in the garage.
*Silver birch are good.
Thinking about it, this coddling (as I call it) seems to be a woman maternal thing.
Not if the woman grew up on a farm where field peas were drilled in the autumn and rolled with a heavy roller as soon as they had three sets of leaves (equivalent of pinching out) and then left to withstand the worst that the winter and the woodpigeons could throw at them - I know peas are tough
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Hello all
David, you are VERY patient! However in Rosemummy's defence, most seedlings would get killed by frost with the minority not doing and I must admit to being a bit anxious too. However, mine have been planted out for a week or so now and we have had 3 nights of frost, and they are doing really well.......so it goes to show David is right (which we knew all along, it was ourselves we were doubting!!).
They will be fine Louise (sorry - Rose
).
thanks david and orchid lady! it's when one is a novice that cinofidence is low david i have been leaving lids on overnight, more to keep slugs away as haven't had time to prepare deterrants they'll go in at weekend if i'm allowed a couple of hours, i do hope i've cleared 2nd site eonough dug up big lump of crocosmia and some daisy type flowers that flowered august overtaken large area ended up on my bum a few times roots are ling and deep hope i've got enough out to allow sps to flower properly
Tracey & Louise - believe me, I do understand how confusing it must be to absorb all these do's & don'ts of gardening. Unfortunately sweet peas is one of your choices that will be totally ruined by too much TLC. In fact, cold frost is their friend......it makes them strong and robust. I also understand that you may want to figure things out for yourselves and succeed through trial & error and we have all done that.
As for my 'help'....all I can say is that I've being doing this on these forums now for about the past 10 years and have had many messages of thanks from people who have succeeded where they had previously failed.
Could I just add to my previous post?
A couple of years ago while visiting a sweet pea exhibition, a lady (who knew I would be there) took the trouble to visit the Eagle SP stand and ask the owner if he had seen me as she would like to say hello. Derek (Mr Eagle) found me and introduced us.
We had a cup of tea together, had a good chat and she thanked me for all the help I had given her & others......how nice was that.
A few of my sweet peas, coming along nicely on the veg patch, I have them all round this 'quarter'. I will be putting some netting up next weekend for them
Just twigged that OL is you, Tracey! I would have put my netting up first. I did like you a couple of yrs ago, then trod on some when the dog barked beside me and gave me a fright! Most recovered eventually, but I was so mad!
I have done two batches (didn't get time to do all at once), in deep paper pots. I germinated the first batch on heated prop at end of feb, then slung them straight into cold frame. Wide open in day, then partly open at night as the wind tried to wreck the top a couple of times! They are now nearly ready to pinch out. Last batch I did last wk in cold conservatory, as no room left in prop. They are slower in showing me any shoots, but I'm sure they will soon. All going out as soon as tall enough. Thinking of taking the first lot out of the frame tomorrow, as need the space.
Incidentally, I have some spare fuchsias in the frame too, that weren't so great last year, but showed some better growth later on. I put them in the frame over winter (the better ones got mollycoddled in the GH), and although supposed to be tender ones, they are just as happy as the SP's and, caulis and young strawberries. They have thrived from neglect, so perhaps we spoil too many of our plants? I have also moved my toms into the GH this wk, and they seem to be doing fine with a propagator top on at night. (the GH is bubble-wrapped)
So, David, I am treating most of my plants meaner this yr. I think many can stand more cold than we are led to believe, provided kept dry and out of nasty cold winds.
Hi Jeannie, sorry I'm confusing everyone, I did put a thread on saying
My netting will just get staple to the fencing so should be ok....I hope, and the hounds aren't allowed on the veg patch, they will just sit on the other side if the fence looking at me
that's nice david, always nice to know you're appreciated..you are!! def planting out this weekend want sites well prepared, got bean sticks,grit and slug pubsready, love the pistachio nut tip, will get some and scoff them asap!
Bless you, Tracy.....how sweet is that?
You've added a ickle twig-stake to each of your plants and even tied them....now that's dedication.
When I suggested twiggy bits, I thinking of *bushy twiggy bits. However, it has to be said that they're looking much better than when they were in the garage. 
*Silver birch are good.
Thinking about it, this coddling (as I call it) seems to be a woman maternal thing.
PS, Looking more closely, perhaps they weren't tied.
Not if the woman grew up on a farm where field peas were drilled in the autumn and rolled with a heavy roller as soon as they had three sets of leaves (equivalent of pinching out) and then left to withstand the worst that the winter and the woodpigeons could throw at them - I know peas are tough
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.