Garden flowers shouldn't be picked.

[revmichael]

That's my motto anyway, except for -

Sweet peas.

Every year I try with these, almost the only annual that I grow, and every year I have mediocre success.

But this year I've had a bumper crop - would the rain have had something to do with it? I do not aim at the best shaped flowers nor the brightest colours; I am more concerned about the strength of their scent.

Here some I picked earlier - the perfume fills the room:





The left hand bunch I picked ten minutes ago.

[smiffy]

They look lovely Rev! I love sweet peas, but I have trouble picking them as it triggers my hayfever!

As for garden flowers not to be picked, I am looking to plant things this year to pick and put in the house. Cut flowers cost a fortune, so being able to pop into the garden and pick my own would be lovely.

[Tigger]

I just don't seem to have any luck growing sweet peas. I usually sow them directly in the border. Am I best starting them off in modules on the windowsill?

[Peek]

I tend to agree with you Rev, however I had to pick some gladioli last week as the wild winds had bashed them over, and the newer ones that were coming along were growing at a funny angle. It was lovely to have them in the kitchen for a change.


And, oh, I can smell those sweet peas from here...wonderful display!

[territalks]

Hi Rve Mike

Beautiful display. Yes, the scent is very heavy! They are so pretty. Lovely picture

Thanks

Love

TT xxxx

[revmichael]

tigger said:

I just don't seem to have any luck growing sweet peas. I usually sow them directly in the border. Am I best starting them off in modules on the windowsill?

I know that some people start theirs in the autumn but, although my seeds for next year have just arrived, I don't plant mine till about March. The last couple of years I have bought those long seed module plastic packs - for growing long-rooted plants in. I keep them in the greenhouse, but I guess a cool window would do, and then I cut off the tops when they are around four inches tall (I don't do cms) to make them branch out into several stalks.
I try to grow them up tall metal wigwams. Of the four lots I planted out this year only one has done very well and one lot has only produced one flower.
It seems that they need lots of light and air (and my garden is far too crowded for that to happen). I always try to dig a deep hole and fill it with good compost and fertilizer before I plant them.

This year it has worked. But next year, who knows?.......

[Janglers]

I agree with you Michael, apart from, as Peek says, ones that have been knocked down.

I could smell your sweet peas, almost.

Actually what I can smell is a pot of lilies by my front door. They were ravaged by a lily beetle earlier in the year. It looks very yellow and bedraggled, but has produced it's lovely white flowers as usual. I am upstairs, in a bedroom, and the smell is wonderful.

[carlott]

We had a fantastic display of sweet peas last year - climbed way above the pyramid provided and we had to construct a higher one outside it.

This year we lost the first lot of plants - wet/slugs or what we know not. Undaunted Tiglet planted some more and we have had slightly better luck but not really worth the effort however small of planting and tying in

[Fi]

smiffy said:

As for garden flowers not to be picked, I am looking to plant things this year to pick and put in the house. Cut flowers cost a fortune, so being able to pop into the garden and pick my own would be lovely.

How true. Our vegetable garden is still in the 'under construction' phase, but we intend to use part of it to grow flowers specifically for cutting.
I love sweet peas, and always start them off early in the greenhouse. Has anyone ever come across a scented perennial?

[Janglers]

fi said:

smiffy said:

As for garden flowers not to be picked, I am looking to plant things this year to pick and put in the house. Cut flowers cost a fortune, so being able to pop into the garden and pick my own would be lovely.

How true. Our vegetable garden is still in the 'under construction' phase, but we intend to use part of it to grow flowers specifically for cutting.
I love sweet peas, and always start them off early in the greenhouse. Has anyone ever come across a scented perennial?

No, but I have inherited some in my new garden. There are two shades of pink, and are lovely.

Did you watch Universtiy Challenge last night? The asked what was the common name for lathyrus odoratus. The questions are easy whn you know the answers! ;D

[revmichael]

fi said:

smiffy said:

As for garden flowers not to be picked, I am looking to plant things this year to pick and put in the house. Cut flowers cost a fortune, so being able to pop into the garden and pick my own would be lovely.

How true. Our vegetable garden is still in the 'under construction' phase, but we intend to use part of it to grow flowers specifically for cutting.
I love sweet peas, and always start them off early in the greenhouse. Has anyone ever come across a scented perennial?

I have two lots of perennial sweet peas. They are both ?white pearl. Although they have absolutely no scent (which marks them down in my book) they do make a splendid glistening white display.

Here's one of the lots

[lindasahandir]

Michael, your sweet peas look absolutely lovely, but I'd advise you to remove them from the room if you have visitors who suffer from hayfever.

I remember, years ago, spending the evening in someone's living room with quite a few other people - there were chairs all round the walls, and in front of bookcases etc - and I started sneezing and snuffling like mad.

I could smell a strong scent, which I assumed was being worn by one of the women present, so of course, being well brought up, I didn't say anything.

It was only as the evening was drawing to a close that someone said "Aren't those sweet peas gorgeous?", and somebody else stood up, and I saw the vase! I could have asked for them to be moved to another room for the evening, and I would have been fine!

That'll teach me to be so darn polite! *lol*

[revmichael]

lindasahandir said:

Michael, your sweet peas look absolutely lovely, but I'd advise you to remove them from the room if you have visitors who suffer from hayfever.

I remember, years ago, spending the evening in someone's living room with quite a few other people - there were chairs all round the walls, and in front of bookcases etc - and I started sneezing and snuffling like mad.

I could smell a strong scent, which I assumed was being worn by one of the women present, so of course, being well brought up, I didn't say anything.

It was only as the evening was drawing to a close that someone said "Aren't those sweet peas gorgeous?", and somebody else stood up, and I saw the vase! I could have asked for them to be moved to another room for the evening, and I would have been fine!

That'll teach me to be so darn polite! *lol*

I see what you mean Linda.
I'm afraid that it's the strong perfume from Lilies that do it for me but I'm glad to say that Sweet Peas are just nice.
However, they are in the dining room on full view so I will take notice if a visitor seems 'on edge.'

[scoo]

I know only too welll what you mean Linda. Why do some women drench themselves in perfume? It not only triggers my hay fever, but my asthma too.