Sweet pea advice please

Lily Pilly · July 2016

this year I decided to try some new varieties

Ethel Grace (lavender)

Sylvia Moore (rich pink)

Valerie Harrod (apricot pink)

Oxford Blue (mid blue) done this one before

White Frills (pure white)

Windsor (maroon)

they have all been watered fed and pampered the same way

ethel, sylvia are growing well but the others all seem to have stpopped growing The leaves are sad, weak looking, affected by moths of some sort. They are mixed up together in both ground and cotainers. No difference

I don't even have a flower yet!!

Advice please

Fairygirl · July 2016

David's been posting on the camera thread LP, so I expect he'll see this and offer you some help.

I got mine out in that warm spell in late May early June. They're in fairly sheltered positions. Don't know if I've just been lucky with those.

I also sowed some direct, but they've made little progress. The poor, cold weather is likely to be a factor I think, so possibly that's one of the problems for you...

Pete.8 · July 2016

I read recently that sweet P's don't like being watered in the evening, esp if the weather is poor. The article said that cold water on the roots overnight can cause shock which makes the buds turn yellow and drop.
No idea if it's applicable to you, but maybe worth bearing in mind.

Mine got off to a slow start this year, but lots of flowers now

Lily Pilly · July 2016

Thanks Pete and Fairy

the weather has been shocking cold temps and lots of rain hit it doesn't explain why some are ok and other aren't. Just disappointed as was looking forward to some different colours

Maybe they will all catch up

LesleyK · July 2016

They may do LilyP. Mine have just started to flower and I sowed the seeds indoors in March. Up to now only the pink ones have opened but there are buds of a few different colours visible. The weather hasn't been very kind to us so far.

Incidentally I sowed nasturtiums expecting a riot of oranges and bright yellows but only pale yellow flowers have come up. It will be better next year. It WILL be better next year.

Fairygirl · July 2016

Bumping for David

Unknown · July 2016

Okay, found it.

Lilly, from what you describe it, it may be down this awful cold wet spring/early summer. The only 'pea' moth I know of is the one that affects vegetable peas, ie maggots in the pods.

Regarding bud drop, this is perfectly normal at this time of year and isn't really very serious.

Sound advice, as given by Eagle Sweet Peas:

"Bud drop usually happens at the start of the flowering period and is mainly caused by variation in temperature (hot days and cold nights). The buds turn yellow/green and fall off when touched.

There is not a lot that you can do about bud drop, you just have to wait until the weather settles and the nights get warmer. Do not feed plants until the buds start to set and flower. You can get this problem more than once in a season.

Bud drop can also be caused by watering with a cold hosepipe - use water that has stood for 24 hours if possible. Leave as much growth on as possible, including tendrils, until it passes."

Hope this helps.

Last edited: 13 July 2016 15:58:57

Nanny Beach · July 2016

sweet peas dont like it too hot and dry, Ive got some in a large tub which gets some shade, they always do much better there, than the ones in a tub the other side which are in the sun all day. After having terrible germination,for several years,, someone on here recomended Rogers Parsons in Chichester, no more expensive, and very good germination. Sunday is our Wedding Anniverary, so the ones I have grown, are name appropriate, anniversary,Honeymoon,April in Paris.

Fairygirl · July 2016

It has been consistently cold here after the cold spring and then unusual warmth in late May/early June. It's struggled to stay in low teens here for the last two weeks apart from a few hours now and then. Some days it's only just made double figures. Mine are out of the worst of the wind, so they've made some reasonable progress but I expect it's been a bit hit and miss for lots of plants

Lily Pilly · July 2016

Thank you all very much

David it's super to hear your familiar reassuring tones

i will just have to wait and see, it does seem very obvious tho that the the pink/ lilac strains are stronger than the burgundy/ white? A good inspection tonight shows some sign of bud formation. Thank goodness, it's the middle of July!!!

Fairygirl · July 2016

LP - do you ever grow Cupani? It's very tough and reliable if you want a purply flower.

The whites can be a bit fickle I find. I've got Juliet this year, but I'm not impressed so far

White Frills wasn't great either. Very white but not much scent. Maybe that's just me though. I had Cathy a few years ago which was highly scented and floriferous. It was slightly muddy, and cream rather than white, but it was superb in terms of flowers. Weather possibly had an input there though.

Sweet pea advice please

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