Sweetpeas & potting on

i chose pots that are as tall as poss. they dislike root disturbance so when at the 4 leaf stage pot on. peat pot into the new pot and then backfill. i would then put them somewhere cool, cold frame/greenhouse unheated.
the short container ones could go into their final pot as it will avoid futher disturbance come the spring.

Pinch out the growing points when there are 4 pairs of leaves, as well.

ooh i'd forgotten that. good advice spritz.

:-)

Thanks both - I knew I could rely on you for sensible advice! By the way - with regard to those going into the pot - how much space roughly should I leave in between the seedlings?

Hmmm....I suppose I grow mine about 6" apart in the soil, but I haven't tried any in a pot....possibly closer together....are they going to trail or climb?

I've just come across this question and would make an observation that a sweetpea grower made regarding sowing seed at this time of year; don't pinch the tops out of the young plants, let them grow on as it will help them develop a good root system for next year. They can be pinched out in the spring. Hope this helps....that is if you have not already pinched them out....lol

Really? I am surprised! Oh well, mine aren't showing above the compost yet. so I don't have to worry about that! Maybe I'll pinch some...and leave some!

Oh no - already pinched out some as soon as Spritz told me to!! I will leave the others which are just starting I guess. It will be interesting to see how they all turn out. Thanks for the help :-))

Don't worry - I do it, as do most people - and this year, I had the best sweet peas I've EVER grown! :-)))))

Do you think it was the weather which helped - or your superior skills?? Come on Spritz please share the wisdom - I've tried for 2 years in a row - sowing the seeds in March and they've been disastrous - I was really disappointed as I bought the seeds at Chelsea each time too. That's why I thought this year - start the year before and if it still doesn't work - give up!! Can you give me some sort of idiot guide to the way you do it? Please! ;-)

I haven't got superior skills!!!!! I will tell you what I do, though. I hope it helps.

I soak the seeds over night, then plant them in newspaper pots in October, 3 seeds per pot, in the cool greenhouse. I DO pinch out the growing points when there are 4 pairs of leaves.

In the meantime, I dig rotted manure into the area round my obelisks. Then in the spring - April - I plant the whole newspaper pots out into the soil. The plants need to be tied to the obelisk as they grow - then they start climbing by themselves.

I make sure that I cut all the flowers, or cut off any that try to form seedpods, as the plant will give up if it's allowed to make seed pods.

I feed them every week or so with diluted tomato food once there's any flowers.. They have to be well-watered if it's dry, as well.

Is that enough info? I don't worry too much about tendrils - but I try to get the plants tied in safely in case of wind.

Hi Spritz - I see you have everlasting peas - can you remember if when your's were seedlings whether they looked weedier than any other sweet peas you grew? They seedlings are coming along nicely - but they look really thin and reedy, and I just wanted to check that that was normal!

Sorry, Mw - I can't help there. I inherited them! I think you should ask another question with a photo. Somebody will know!