Sweet peas in newspaper????

Thanks S. Hoping for better luck next year.

Thanks for this info Spritz.
One point- the R.H.S recommends that the seeds are not soaked in water for 24 hours prior to planting as this makes them more susceptible to rotting and fungal attack.They highly recommend that the seed coat should be 'chipped' with a sharp pen knife opposite the eye of the seed to encourage water penetration and natural germination.We are hoping to grow some next year to intertwine with the Clematis and Jasmine.We will probably buy them as young plants, as we haven't got a greenhouse or the space as we will be germinating other seeds for next years display indoors.Also they are so cheap to buy at the nurseries and garden centres.

ive my sweet pea seeds sown now too Spritz, i used the cardboard for the inside of loo rolls

Yes, Grenville, I know - but I find it too fiddly and somewhat dangerous too and so I risk it. I haven't had any problems - so far!

Irish, I've sometimes used those too - but find it more difficult getting the compost into the tubes and end up with a mess all over the place - so I tend to stick to my newspaper now!

I've also heard of rubbing the seeds with glasspaper to aid germination - same principle as chipping by breaking the seed coat

Spritz, on our excellent local radio gardening Qs and As, Reg Moule suggests an easier way to chip seedcoats - put seeds into clean screwtop jar which is lined with sandpaper and shake a bit!
I've never had probs with seeds rotting, but know what u mean about the newspaper/loo roll innards going mouldy.

Thanks for the informative blog and good clear photos.

Too late now! I am not un-planting them. LOL.

Good grief, no!
And anyway, I've never been organdized enough to try the sandpaper thing, lol. Just grateful to throw seeds in, ahem.
It grieves me to admit that I have young sweet williams and wallflowers out there that sorely need proper planting in. Theory is sometimes all very well, but time/energy lacking.
Hope u enjoy yr s peas next year!

Weeding -thats why we are going to buy our sweet peas from the nursery next year.It will certainly save time and energy and, above all,-space in our kitchen where we grow a lot of our plants from seed. Oh for the luxury of the space for a greenhouse!

Think I'll try this way next year. I haven't got round to sewing them this autumn.

Well, I feel a bit chastened by the comments and advice from no less than the Gurus of the RHS - but if this method works for me, then I shall continue to do it! I hope that it helps someone who hasn't had much success at growing sweet peas in the past, or who would like to have a go. After all, it's very satisfying to plant home-grown plants, and without spending any money on expensive equipment.

Hywel, there's still plenty of time to plant your sweet peas this year. Go for it!

I know I'm lucky to have a greenhouse, and commiserate with people who can't have one for various reasons. I use mine to its capacity. In the spring, it's always bursting at the seams. My husband won't let me germinate seeds indoors - he says that's what the greenhouse is for! I can't complain about that, or else engine parts would find their way indoors from the garage from his hobby.... the mind boggles! LOL.

Spritz! Did I spot a word puzzle on one of your newspaper pots not done??? Dreadful waste of a bit of brain exercise! Shame on you! Of all the things I thought I'd miss when we moved out here, my daily brain work out on the newspaper puzzles is the only one, so now I have a Soduku book in every room!

I'll try if you don't think it's too late. I usually do it in Sep but didn't get around to it this year.

Afew years ago i grow some sweetpeas & did them same as you spritz, & they where fine, so if i do them again sometime thats how i'd do them again.

Did you read Noseypotters blog / question about gardening tips Spritz?

He felt there should be some way of ' policing ' them to ensure accuracy and prevent expensive mistakes.

Gardeners being what they are often look for ways to save money and your tip sounds good to me esp. when had little success with them. Fully appreciate there is a recommended way but hope it wont deter others from saying what works best for them.Thanks for sharing.

Do we have GoY's first 'Trial' for Sweetpeas emerging here ?
I am of the same opinion as Barbara, I have found chipping the seed rather fiddly so I favour soaking them.
Sowing Sweetpeas during the schools' autumn half term break has been a routine activity for many years for me, I am looking forward to doing it this week.
In my experience they can be sown in pots at any time during the autumn and winter months, early sowing can make for more established plants and earlier flowering. So, go for it Hywel, they will reward you with such beautiful flowers and heavenly scent. Just imagine the vases of them indoors for weeks on end!

Like Grenville, I don't have a greenhouse, unless you count the 2 twee little wooden ones bought from Ikea on my bedroom windowsill!
The germination of seed indoors is not the problem, it is what to do with the plants once potted up, when it is still too cold to plant them out. I have only one window with enough light (ie. the bedroom bay). Not perfect, as it has a radiator under it. A pasting table is somehow squeezed into the space, and then COVERED from end to end with young plants. You have to watch what you do with the curtains!
As you say, Spritz, it does require a little forbearance from the other half. I have to turn a blind eye to electric drills in cases indoors. Must get some Sweetpea seeds - I favour the toilet roll, or even better, kitchen towel tubes!

Great blog, I'm inspired to try this myself, thank you!

You are very welcome, Madmum. It works for me - and I hope it works for you as well! I've been digging manure and compost into the area around my obelisk today, to prepare for the little plants next spring.

Great advice and instructions, Spritz. I think I'm going to have a go now. Thank You!

Super Blog Spritz thanks for this :)

I've bought my sweet pea seeds - a Mr Fothergill collection with Bijou Mixed (dwarf), Blue Velvet, Old Spice Mixed (strongly scented), Spencer Mixed (good for cutting), Cupani (old variety, strongly scented) and Swan Lake (pure white, good for cutting). I was very happy to get so many for £3.49!

I'll get them planted this weekend!

Wow Madmum that was a bargain u got there :O Iv already potted up my Sweetpeas in2 very large Pots with 5 seeds in each ,The Seeds are what i collected myself from my Garden so im hopeing theyl grow ok for Next Years Displays :)Iv Got the Old Fashioned 1s that smell devine :)

Jacque, I like a good deal! Mine are in now, 3 pots of each variety, I've put them on the window sill in my sons room (he's away at Uni now) and will move them to the mini greenhouse/coldframe when there's some growth.

Hello all,i've used a similar way to sow sweetpeas this year,i saw it on Gardener's World a few week's ago,useing the inside of a loo roll,wrapping newspaper around it and secure with tape,sowing one seed in each tube,ideal for the long the long roots..they are shooting well so far..hopefully enjoy a good display next year..good luck

Sounds great Teenyweeny :)Cant wait 2 see Pics in the Coming Summer :)

I wouldn't have had enough loo rolls! LOL. You must have steadier hands than me - I did plant another lot in loo rolls in the spring, and got compost all over the greenhouse bench and floor!

BTW my first seedlings are appearing in their newspaper pots!

thanks spritz sweet peas was on my mind today how to put them in paper or loo rolls i might use paper havent got that many loo rolls ready for tomorrow hope its not late putting sweet peas in if i had loo rolls i would cut a plastic funnel but spritz thanks for your photos there a real help for me

Do you germinate Sweet Peas in darkness or light , I have heard both?
Oh and btw, your sweetpeas are beautiful

Janice - they are under 1" of compost, but in the greenhouse on the bench when I plant them. Does that answer your question?? I've never heard of anyone trying to grow them in the dark. I think they'd struggle.

Thanks for the compliment. I am hoping that they grow jusr as well this year - I planted them out last week!

OMG Spritz i remember now ! X

Found it Thanks:-)))

Good - it's so easy - give it a go! No expensive 'root trainers' to buy, either.

Good grief, root trainers????

Yes - they are long narrow pots that hinge open - so you use them more than once, I suppose. They are very expensive, and there's always the danger of damaging the roots when you open them and take the plants out.

They really are very deep rooted then Spritz?

I think they must be, yes. I haven't measured them though! LOL.

:-)

Just found this blog Spritz whilst searching for sowing Sweet Peas ... in October 2013!

I shall be sowing 'Juanita' variety and am feeling smug as the average contents of the seed pack states 25 ... there were 39 in my pack! :o)

Have you made newspaper pots, Shirley? I improvised this year, with tall cardboard boxes, but they're beginning to break up already, so I may have to start again. :-(( I don't know 'Juanita' - what colour is it?

Yes Barbara, I had the black newsprint fingers after to prove it! Shame if you have to start over with your seed sowing.

'Juanita' is an Heirloom type of Sweet Pea ... bicoloured flowers in shades of red, pink, white and rose ... lightly scented.

Lovely. :-)) I might be able to wrap cardboard round the soggy boxes, I think. The seedlings are all popping up nicely!

Excellent ... I found another pack of Sweet Peas today in my seed tin ... the Spencer type so I shall have more newspaper pots to make tomorrow!

What fun! ;-) It'll keep you busy and you can make them indoors...

All done ... took an age though as I kept reading articles from the newspaper before folding the pages! ... :o)

LOL.