Sweet Peas

I love sweetpeas - the smell and the fact that the more you pick the more you get - what more can you ask!!

Hi David, your sweetpeas look lovely never tried sweetpeas before, have you tried them for hanging baskets, any info.

They are really easy to grow, Patrick. At one time it was necessary to soak the seeds overnite first to soften the hard shells, but this is no longer required. You can sow directly into the soil where they are to grow or, as I do, sow in pots indoors/in the greenhouse a bit earlier. When the seedlings are about 5" high, pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushiness. Ours were all planted out into large tubs of 18" diameter in early June. Each tub was fitted with a "wigwam", each "wigwam" made from 6 five foot long but thin garden canes stuck at regular intervals round the edge of a tub. The upper ends were fed through the holes in an upturned 3" flowerpot to hold it all together - a quick and free frame to make. This year we are growing a climbing variety called "Little Bit of Magic" as well as a perennial type, Lathyrus vernus "Rainbow Mixed", which reaches only 18" tall and can be grown in sun or shade. I think that some dwarf varieties in baskets or window boxes would really compliment your beautiful bedding schemes and add a lovely fragrance, too (we have too many other basket-type plants to grow to be able to try sweet peas). As a starting point for you, the Thompson & Morgan catalogue has 2 dwarf varieties for baskets/containers - "Pink Cupid" and "Sugar 'n' Spice", or visit www.thompson-morgan.com/seed.

Hi David, Thanks for infomation on sweetpeas,I have the Thompson & Morgan catalogue & dvd, I really like "Sugar 'n' Spice" Will give it a go for my hanging baskets, Do you save your own seeds, when do you normaly sow them. ? Good luck with a "Little Bit of Magic" & "Rainbow Mixed," T &M recomend 15 plants per 14" basket, whats your opinion ?for " Sugar 'n' Spice"

As the dwarf type is only about 7", I suppose 15 plants is not too many, providing you are planting all round the sides and base of a basket as well as the top. I think a basket of these would be stunning. I'd like to see a pic when the time comes, as I've noted this one for our new project next year. I have never saved sweet pea seed as I always try different varieties. Last year, due to holidays, we did not sow our seed indoors until last week in April, but have put it in my diary for 1st week in April, which would be better.

Thanks for the wigwam tip; I will try that this year for some of my climbers!

I hope you'll be pleased with the results, Grammazoo, Good Luck with it!