My sweet peas (autumn sown) always start out long stemmed and get shorter as the season goes on. Does anyone know why this happens? lots of flowers, but too short now.
People put forward many reasons why this happens and I'm sure most people have had it happen at some stage of their growing lives. Some say to cut off the tendrils and you'll get bigger flowers, others say it's determined by the variety you grow, still others say that as sweetpea are hungry feeders, they need liquid feed and perhaps slow acting feed put into their growing medium.
I've found that yes it does happen toward the end of the growing season with them but it definately depends on the variety. Macutania (sp) I grow every year and they get shorter stems about the end of July from an autumn sowing while others like April In Paris are still going strong. Both get fed by me with tomato food for those in containers. Those growing in the ground have some BFB added to the soil before planting.
Thanks for your comments ladygardener2. I did dig a big hole for them this year and put manure and bfb in it as I felt that maybe drying out had been the problem last year. They started so well, ah well, maybe some tomato feed would be worth trying. I wouldn't be without them though, short stems or not. In the past I have picked until end of October, so don't really consider this the end of the season.
I have this too, and despite them all being treated the same for feeding etc, one end and I grow on a slight slope are longer than the other end, so all I can think of is water retention in the soil. The well drained end are shorter, the more moist end are longer. They all get the same feed, sun etc.
Well thats weird, mine are on a bit of a slope and the ones at the top are longer! Mind you the ones slightly lower aren't at the bottom of the slope, so water keeps on going down. Also I think I was a little bit more diligent in the moisture retention provision higher up. The best ones of all are the few 'leftovers' at the bottom of the garden, growing up a wall in the middle of roses and honeysuckle, their feet are in shade until late afternoon (when there is sun, which has been a bit lacking in Edinburgh this summer) its all a puzzle, and one day I will grow sweet peas with show stopping long stems.
I think it's worth recommending April In Paris now guys as my Daughter grew it last year for the 1st time and was very impressed with it's long stems. Because she said it's very scented I thought I'd give it a go this year. Above all the sp I've grown this one is by far the best in terms of long stems and has a wonderful scent. It won't be pleasing to everyone as it's flowers are a beautiful cream tinged with lilac so not suitable for the dark rich jewel like colours some people favour. Definately worth growing 'tho if you want a lovely stong scent and long stems as well as pretty pale flowers.
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People put forward many reasons why this happens and I'm sure most people have had it happen at some stage of their growing lives. Some say to cut off the tendrils and you'll get bigger flowers, others say it's determined by the variety you grow, still others say that as sweetpea are hungry feeders, they need liquid feed and perhaps slow acting feed put into their growing medium.
I've found that yes it does happen toward the end of the growing season with them but it definately depends on the variety. Macutania (sp) I grow every year and they get shorter stems about the end of July from an autumn sowing while others like April In Paris are still going strong. Both get fed by me with tomato food for those in containers. Those growing in the ground have some BFB added to the soil before planting.
Thanks for your comments ladygardener2. I did dig a big hole for them this year and put manure and bfb in it as I felt that maybe drying out had been the problem last year. They started so well, ah well, maybe some tomato feed would be worth trying. I wouldn't be without them though, short stems or not. In the past I have picked until end of October, so don't really consider this the end of the season.
I have this too, and despite them all being treated the same for feeding etc, one end and I grow on a slight slope are longer than the other end, so all I can think of is water retention in the soil. The well drained end are shorter, the more moist end are longer. They all get the same feed, sun etc.
Well thats weird, mine are on a bit of a slope and the ones at the top are longer! Mind you the ones slightly lower aren't at the bottom of the slope, so water keeps on going down. Also I think I was a little bit more diligent in the moisture retention provision higher up. The best ones of all are the few 'leftovers' at the bottom of the garden, growing up a wall in the middle of roses and honeysuckle, their feet are in shade until late afternoon (when there is sun, which has been a bit lacking in Edinburgh this summer) its all a puzzle, and one day I will grow sweet peas with show stopping long stems.
I think it's worth recommending April In Paris now guys as my Daughter grew it last year for the 1st time and was very impressed with it's long stems. Because she said it's very scented I thought I'd give it a go this year. Above all the sp I've grown this one is by far the best in terms of long stems and has a wonderful scent. It won't be pleasing to everyone as it's flowers are a beautiful cream tinged with lilac so not suitable for the dark rich jewel like colours some people favour. Definately worth growing 'tho if you want a lovely stong scent and long stems as well as pretty pale flowers.