I would pinch the tops out, but if there is any heat in your greenhouse, they need to be somewhere colder. Take the propagator lids off, they will encourage mould.
Just to add to the above advice - sweet peas are hardy and can withstand quite a lot of low temperatures. We've had sub zero temps regularly in the last two weeks, with daytime temps in low single figures or barely staying above zero, and snow in the last couple of days. My sweet peas sown in spring are still flowering and producing buds - they've only suffered this week because of the snow weighing them down on Tuesday/Wednesday. I actually cut some for the house on Monday
Sweet peas sown now will only make a little growth, which is what you want in order to produce nice sturdy little plants for next year. It's important not to coddle them in too warm an environment, as it only produces weak, leggy growth. A cold frame, or similar, is all that's needed for keeping the worst of the wet, windy winter weather from flooring them.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you so much for that fairy girl! Its great to get some sound advice. I have taken the lids off and they are fine no mice!! I live in north Norfolk and so far no snow. I'm going to try the cordon method although I'm not a professional I'm giving myself a challenge!! I haven't really grown them before and after watching gw I was inspired.I have over 150 sweet peas to put in and looking forward to next spring !!
Experiment a bit too Lisa. You get to know your own conditions that way.
I expect you'll get a fair bit of cold wind there, so try and keep them sheltered from that. If there's a very long, cold frosty period due, just group them together which will help prevent any root freezing. It's sometimes just a bit of trial and error. Any small plant is vulnerable during the worst of the winter weather, but it's surprising how well most of them cope. Waterlogged soil is always more of an issue than cold dry conditions, so it's easier when you have things in a pot because the moistness of the soil can be regulated. A little seedling or small plant exposed to cold rain and cold wet soil will struggle more than a little seedling kept on the drier side in a pot in a more sheltered position.I often stick small plants (shrubs or tough perennials) in amongst evergreens in a border to give them a bit of protection. That works well for me. Young seedlings are best in a frame, somewhere that you can easily keep an eye on them though.
I grow my sweet peas mainly in containers because the soil takes a long time to warm up in spring here, and I rarely sow in autumn. Direct sown seed in April catches up with anything overwintered because the plants often just 'sit' till it's warm enough for them to get going anyway. The ones in those pix are in large timber boxes with shrubs, so they were quite well fed and watered, but I also do them in decent sized pots with canes. I sometimes grow them just running through the border, letting them scramble among shrubs. Using good quality seed also helps, and the variety makes a difference too, and lots of deadheading through the main season
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good heavens Fairygirl, you still have sweet peas in November! I have the opposite problem in SW France. Once the weather heats up into the 30°s in July my sweet peas go brown and that's the end of them. I think they prefer being too cold to being too hot. Not sure why I keep bothering but I love the scent. I don't know anyone else who grows them in this area.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Hi BL - yes, they'll take more cold than heat in my experience. Our summer average in Scotland is less than 20 degrees. Extreme heat doesn't suit them and I think they're better in a bit of shade rather than the sunniest site, with plenty of nutrition and moisture. In the last couple of weeks we've had half a dozen frosts, daytime temps mainly in low single figures, and even when it gets above 5 or 6 degrees, it's only for a few hours. We had a good fall of snow on Tuesday night and it carried on snowing on Wednesday. It was minus 4 or 5 this morning when I fed the birds. It has been drier than normal though - a lot less wind and rain, but that's coming tonight.
Having said that, variety makes a difference. It's only my Cupanis that are still going - all the rest turned their toes up ages ago!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
While you are on the subject of sweet peas, i've bought some seeds, planned to pot them up and put in cold greenhouse, is it worth it, getting them going before spring? If i do plant them, should i water throughout winter? Thank you
Posts
Meant to comment yesterday, but I agree with BL.
Mine are in cold greenhouse and have been pinched out.
I sow a second lot in January for later flowering.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Hi thanks for that. My sweet peas are leggy do you think I should just trim them?
I would pinch the tops out, but if there is any heat in your greenhouse, they need to be somewhere colder. Take the propagator lids off, they will encourage mould.
Just to add to the above advice - sweet peas are hardy and can withstand quite a lot of low temperatures. We've had sub zero temps regularly in the last two weeks, with daytime temps in low single figures or barely staying above zero, and snow in the last couple of days. My sweet peas sown in spring are still flowering and producing buds - they've only suffered this week because of the snow weighing them down on Tuesday/Wednesday. I actually cut some for the house on Monday
Sweet peas sown now will only make a little growth, which is what you want in order to produce nice sturdy little plants for next year. It's important not to coddle them in too warm an environment, as it only produces weak, leggy growth. A cold frame, or similar, is all that's needed for keeping the worst of the wet, windy winter weather from flooring them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you so much for that fairy girl! Its great to get some sound advice. I have taken the lids off and they are fine no mice!! I live in north Norfolk and so far no snow. I'm going to try the cordon method although I'm not a professional I'm giving myself a challenge!! I haven't really grown them before and after watching gw I was inspired.I have over 150 sweet peas to put in and looking forward to next spring !!
Experiment a bit too Lisa. You get to know your own conditions that way.
I expect you'll get a fair bit of cold wind there, so try and keep them sheltered from that. If there's a very long, cold frosty period due, just group them together which will help prevent any root freezing. It's sometimes just a bit of trial and error. Any small plant is vulnerable during the worst of the winter weather, but it's surprising how well most of them cope. Waterlogged soil is always more of an issue than cold dry conditions, so it's easier when you have things in a pot because the moistness of the soil can be regulated. A little seedling or small plant exposed to cold rain and cold wet soil will struggle more than a little seedling kept on the drier side in a pot in a more sheltered position.I often stick small plants (shrubs or tough perennials) in amongst evergreens in a border to give them a bit of protection. That works well for me. Young seedlings are best in a frame, somewhere that you can easily keep an eye on them though.
I grow my sweet peas mainly in containers because the soil takes a long time to warm up in spring here, and I rarely sow in autumn. Direct sown seed in April catches up with anything overwintered because the plants often just 'sit' till it's warm enough for them to get going anyway. The ones in those pix are in large timber boxes with shrubs, so they were quite well fed and watered, but I also do them in decent sized pots with canes. I sometimes grow them just running through the border, letting them scramble among shrubs. Using good quality seed also helps, and the variety makes a difference too, and lots of deadheading through the main season
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good heavens Fairygirl, you still have sweet peas in November! I have the opposite problem in SW France. Once the weather heats up into the 30°s in July my sweet peas go brown and that's the end of them. I think they prefer being too cold to being too hot. Not sure why I keep bothering but I love the scent. I don't know anyone else who grows them in this area.
Hi BL - yes, they'll take more cold than heat in my experience. Our summer average in Scotland is less than 20 degrees. Extreme heat doesn't suit them and I think they're better in a bit of shade rather than the sunniest site, with plenty of nutrition and moisture. In the last couple of weeks we've had half a dozen frosts, daytime temps mainly in low single figures, and even when it gets above 5 or 6 degrees, it's only for a few hours. We had a good fall of snow on Tuesday night and it carried on snowing on Wednesday. It was minus 4 or 5 this morning when I fed the birds. It has been drier than normal though - a lot less wind and rain, but that's coming tonight.
Having said that, variety makes a difference. It's only my Cupanis that are still going - all the rest turned their toes up ages ago!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
While you are on the subject of sweet peas, i've bought some seeds, planned to pot them up and put in cold greenhouse, is it worth it, getting them going before spring? If i do plant them, should i water throughout winter? Thank you
Hello...
Yes Im going to ask the same question. Do you water them very much?