I am going to sow my sweet pea seeds tomorrow or Saturday as both flower days as I am doing gardening by the moon this year, lots of pink seed packs left so that is what I am going for
Root trainer all wash and waiting
David K thanks for tip last year on growing sweet peas they flowered really early and done well this year, I will be sowing about a month earlier than last year as have the coldframe pre made from last year this time
Spot on, Liam.....7 to 21 days is the normal germination time.
I would just add that they seem quite wet, better to keep them on the dry side. Perhaps not so much a problem at the moment, but will be as the weather gets colder.
Thanks David, would once weekly watering be about right?
I can't be specific, Liam....but I think once a week would be too frequent. During the winter months I rarely water at all....just keep them on the dry side and remember, they just need to be ticking over until next spring, not putting on growth.
Try to image that if the compost is wet during a very frosty night, those tiny roots will be encased in a block of ice.
Thanks for your post, very informative. I live at 280m and have not had much success with sowing in spring so I've sown them 2 weeks ago in loo roll holders & I can see little shoots coming up. I used seed compost and did give them a water, they are in a cold polytunnel. Re watering is it better to keep them slightly wet whilst germinating then stop and or would you let them dry up before watering again. Slightly worried mine are a bit wet as I watered them again after a week, if I let a bit of ventilation in tunnel will this help?
Also what is your favourite way of training them, I love your baskets which I will try in the spring,did you use seed compost in that? I'm interested in a wigwam but I never seem to get the right number of plants to a cane or sure about what to use for them to climb up. Have you any pictures of climbing ones?
Thanks again, I really hope I can succeed this year, yours look so lovely. Sue
Don't get hung-up about watering, as I've said previously, just try to avoid the roots standing in water, especially during cold weather.
As temperatures are at present over the UK, keep your pollytunnel ventilated day & night....in fact it would be best kept ventilated at all temperatures above say -10c. Remember they are very tough little characters.....I've never lost any to frost.
Re training, as you will know there are two basic methods, 'cordon' & 'decorative'.....cordon I use for exhibition quality flowers and decorative for cut flowers. The cordon method is very labour intensive, but the results are stunning.
Hanging basket compost will be multipurpose, as (unlike autumn sown seed) they, being sown in spring will benefit from the additional nutrients.
Finally, I would say if your spring sown SPs have been disappointing this year, it was probably more down to the weather, than any mistake on your part.
Posts
I am going to sow my sweet pea seeds tomorrow or Saturday as both flower days as I am doing gardening by the moon this year, lots of pink seed packs left so that is what I am going for
Root trainer all wash and waiting
David K thanks for tip last year on growing sweet peas they flowered really early and done well this year, I will be sowing about a month earlier than last year as have the coldframe pre made from last year this time
Have sown my sweet peas today Senator, Dorothy Eckhard, Nelson and Cupani, hope I haven't left it too late.
My my sweet peas germinated today! Just popping through the soil.
16 days for them to show, hopefully that's okay!
Spot on, Liam.....7 to 21 days is the normal germination time.
I would just add that they seem quite wet, better to keep them on the dry side. Perhaps not so much a problem at the moment, but will be as the weather gets colder.
I can't be specific, Liam....but I think once a week would be too frequent. During the winter months I rarely water at all....just keep them on the dry side and remember, they just need to be ticking over until next spring, not putting on growth.
Try to image that if the compost is wet during a very frosty night, those tiny roots will be encased in a block of ice.
Hi David
Thanks for your post, very informative. I live at 280m and have not had much success with sowing in spring so I've sown them 2 weeks ago in loo roll holders & I can see little shoots coming up. I used seed compost and did give them a water, they are in a cold polytunnel. Re watering is it better to keep them slightly wet whilst germinating then stop and or would you let them dry up before watering again. Slightly worried mine are a bit wet as I watered them again after a week, if I let a bit of ventilation in tunnel will this help?
Also what is your favourite way of training them, I love your baskets which I will try in the spring,did you use seed compost in that? I'm interested in a wigwam but I never seem to get the right number of plants to a cane or sure about what to use for them to climb up. Have you any pictures of climbing ones?
Thanks again, I really hope I can succeed this year, yours look so lovely. Sue
Hi, Sue
Don't get hung-up about watering, as I've said previously, just try to avoid the roots standing in water, especially during cold weather.
As temperatures are at present over the UK, keep your pollytunnel ventilated day & night....in fact it would be best kept ventilated at all temperatures above say -10c. Remember they are very tough little characters.....I've never lost any to frost.
Re training, as you will know there are two basic methods, 'cordon' & 'decorative'.....cordon I use for exhibition quality flowers and decorative for cut flowers. The cordon method is very labour intensive, but the results are stunning.
Hanging basket compost will be multipurpose, as (unlike autumn sown seed) they, being sown in spring will benefit from the additional nutrients.
Finally, I would say if your spring sown SPs have been disappointing this year, it was probably more down to the weather, than any mistake on your part.
It seems this thread has very much sunk to the bottom of the pile, so I'm giving it a bump.
At your service folks!