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Post by troykerr on Apr 3, 2009 6:51:50 GMT
Linda has the urge to plant some sweet peas but is it not still a bit early for these to be out in the garden?
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Post by lily on Apr 3, 2009 7:51:12 GMT
I know you can sow in autumn and overwinter but I sow in 'spring'. I sowed mine about 10 days ago. They take a while to get going (I don't bother soaking them but do chit them) and I usually end up planting out around the end of April beginning of May.
xxx
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Post by troykerr on Apr 3, 2009 7:56:28 GMT
How do you chit Sweet Peas please? Can you see I am not he gardening one of the family?
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Post by lily on Apr 3, 2009 12:31:00 GMT
How do you chit Sweet Peas please? Can you see I am not he gardening one of the family? I just get a wee stanley knife and slice of a sliver of the outside shell opposite the 'dent'. I sow them with that exposed bit upwards.
Opinion seems divided about whether it's worth bothering, but I have found they come up quicker. You can soak them overnight instead but I forget!
xxx
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Post by tigerlily on Apr 3, 2009 14:48:10 GMT
The only time I grew them, I soaked them in a cup on the windowsill for 24 hours and they grew very well indeed.
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Post by troykerr on Apr 3, 2009 19:10:03 GMT
And the Sweet Peas?
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Post by Fi on Apr 7, 2009 0:06:33 GMT
I know you can sow in autumn and overwinter but I sow in 'spring'. I sowed mine about 10 days ago. They take a while to get going (I don't bother soaking them but do chit them) and I usually end up planting out around the end of April beginning of May.
xxx We soak rather than chit, but otherwisefollow the same system. The only thing I'd add is the need to give them as much space as possible for their roots to grow - long grow tubes are good, but big pots are even better. We sow as many as 12 seeds in a 12" pot and, when ready, plant them out without dividing. Pinch out the tops and then fix anything from a few tall twiggy branches to a formal frame around the seedlings for them to grow up - sometimes we even leave them in the pot. We plant out when the seedlings are about 4" high. (We did try planting the seeds straight into the garden once and the results were OK, but not as good as those started off under glass - some got lost t rot or pests.) Either way, six weeks to two months later there will be a fragrant tower of lovely flowers, all perfect for picking and which will be suitable for the smallest to largest gardens. With a bit of judicious pinching out and deadheading they'll flower to the end of September or more - for me one of the truly great, all-rounder flowers. The only drawback is the difficulty deciding which ones to grow.
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Post by lily on Apr 7, 2009 11:14:42 GMT
They are one of my faves too. I managed to erect a wigwam in the corner of my herb patch so they take up harly any room.
As it's just next to the patio bit outside the kitchen door the perfume from this 6 ft high wigwam is fabulous. We kept cutting them and putting in a small vase indoors and the perfume fills the room.
Last year they were still flowering at the end of September.
Have gone for red (Winston Churchill) and white (White Supreme) this year.
I also grew a couple of spares that came up, in amongst the runner beans. Was lovely picking the beans amongst a heady perfume.
xxx
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