Thanks for the seedling pic David, there's definitely nothing like that in the vicinity yet! My dandelion flower - obsessed baby is a great help with weeding not had one gone to seed yet!
Just thinking about getting gear together ready for autumn sowings, would one of the mini greenhouse type things be ok for overwintering/germination. The type that has shelves in a frame covered with plastic? Thanks.
Linzy - Yes, those mini-greenhouses are fine for overwintering sweet peas...I've never owned one, but my only reservation would be their stability in strong winds. Of course, they offer no protection from cold, but sweet peas don't need it.....just protection from biting winds & rain.
The timing of seed sowing can be important. The knack is to get the seed geminated while there is sufficient autumn warmth and before the onset of really cold weather.
IMHO, much better plants result from seed germinated without artificial heat.
Hi all question really for David,I wonder if I pinched out my sp,s too early? Should I pinch out any that look like they nedd to bush out again even if I,ve already done so?
Hi all question really for David,I wonder if I pinched out my sp,s too early? Should I pinch out any that look like they nedd to bush out again even if I,ve already done so?
Of course you can, rosemummy....some people nip-out the growing tips several times.
On the subject of pinching-out sweet peas, although most of us understand it is to encourage them to produce side shoots and make for bushier plants.
However, I thought (although no-one will be remotely interested) I would explain why. Pinching-out encourages the plants hormones called auxins to move to the side or auxiliary tips……these auxins will produce growth for new and stronger growing tips.
On humans it seems to work the opposite David and despite leaving the growing tip in place, I still seem to get wider at the side I need to move my auxins from the side tips somehow LOL
Teehee o.l that,s so funny!! No David,you stay where you are and keep being helpful please!!that,s v interesting,I,m really not v. Well today, months of no decent sleep have made a cold totally floor me,vzombified today so in a couple of days I,ll go out and look, hope those flipping slugs don,t get stuck in while I,m not. Looking
Posts
Just thinking about getting gear together ready for autumn sowings, would one of the mini greenhouse type things be ok for overwintering/germination. The type that has shelves in a frame covered with plastic? Thanks.
For baby Linzy.
...........................................................
Linzy - Yes, those mini-greenhouses are fine for overwintering sweet peas...I've never owned one, but my only reservation would be their stability in strong winds. Of course, they offer no protection from cold, but sweet peas don't need it.....just protection from biting winds & rain.
The timing of seed sowing can be important. The knack is to get the seed geminated while there is sufficient autumn warmth and before the onset of really cold weather.
IMHO, much better plants result from seed germinated without artificial heat.
Hi all question really for David,I wonder if I pinched out my sp,s too early? Should I pinch out any that look like they nedd to bush out again even if I,ve already done so?
Of course you can, rosemummy....some people nip-out the growing tips several times.
On the subject of pinching-out sweet peas, although most of us understand it is to encourage them to produce side shoots and make for bushier plants.
However, I thought (although no-one will be remotely interested) I would explain why. Pinching-out encourages the plants hormones called auxins to move to the side or auxiliary tips……these auxins will produce growth for new and stronger growing tips.
I really must try to get out more!
David
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
On humans it seems to work the opposite David and despite leaving the growing tip in place, I still seem to get wider at the side
I need to move my auxins from the side tips somehow LOL 
Teehee o.l that,s so funny!! No David,you stay where you are and keep being helpful please!!that,s v interesting,I,m really not v. Well today, months of no decent sleep have made a cold totally floor me,vzombified today so in a couple of days I,ll go out and look, hope those flipping slugs don,t get stuck in while I,m not. Looking