Plants

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

flowerpot — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:16:03 GMT

Many thanks, will give it a go!

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

Digger — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:52:44 GMT

Hello flowerpot, in theory you could keep pinching the tips out countless times but each time you do it energy will divert into producing side shoots and this energy is at the expense of flowers, could i suggest that you pinch out once and then plant the sweet peas close together for a better effect? during the season the stem has the capability of growing to about ten feet tall and it can be untied and layed onto the ground and the tip re trained to grow up.

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

flowerpot — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:15:48 GMT

Hi Rainmaker, was wondering whether I should keep doing this to the new shoots that form so I get a really bushy plant? I have done it to them once, nipped out the initial shoot. Now the second ones look leggy!?

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

Digger — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:54:02 GMT

growing the plants at an angle definately works and does produce a better stem, as to the side stem producing superior flowers,well it is advice from someone who has had major wins with sweet peas at national level.

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

Rainmaker — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:01:36 GMT

[b]Posted by:[/b] digger Once the sweet peas are planted out, they are pinched and a second shoot is then used as the main stem and the actual main stem is disregarded in favour of the side stem, the theory being that a superior bloom is produced from a side stem? next the sweet peas are trained up a cane which is attatched to wires and set at an angle, this angle then ensures that the flower stem is straight along it's entire length and doesn't have a kink at the base.

Excellent, I can feel some experimentation coming up this year - interesting theory!

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

tomato_boy — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:34:21 GMT

I live in Yorkshire digger. [Edited on 30/01/2008]

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

Digger — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:28:15 GMT

[b]Posted by:[/b] tomato_boy [b].[i] All other views are welcome.[/i][/b]

Where abouts in the country are you my friend? sweet peas need to be grown hard without any molly coddling. if they are pale and spindly they are suffering from lack of light. As has already been said pinch them out, but if they are spindly and pale i think they will produce inferior flowers. I grow a lot of sweet peas using the cordon method,Colin Hambidge has written a good book about growing this way. Once the sweet peas are planted out, they are pinched and a second shoot is then used as the main stem and the actual main stem is disregarded in favour of the side stem, the theory being that a superior bloom is produced from a side stem? next the sweet peas are trained up a cane which is attatched to wires and set at an angle, this angle then ensures that the flower stem is straight along it's entire length and doesn't have a kink at the base.

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

tomato_boy — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:25:17 GMT

[b]Thanks you two.[i] All other views are welcome.[/i][/b]

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

Rainmaker — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:51:01 GMT

Chop their heads off! No, really, once the second set of leaves is out, nip off the head. This will mean they branch out more, giving a better plant as it grows up, as well as temporarily slowing down upward growth. Mine are going in the greenhouse soon - but beware they aren't hardy! (I know a frost is due end of this week oop norf).

Re: How to strengthen sweet peas

bogweevil — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:11:44 GMT

Is this more of your windowsill culture, tomato-boy? If so move them into your unheated greenhouse - more light and less warmth is usually the answer. They are fairly hardy, but if hard frosts threaten your greenhouse you might want to cover them with a double layer of fleece just in case. Boggy

How to strengthen sweet peas

tomato_boy — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:41:08 GMT

After seeds are planted and have grown they become thin looking, so how could I strengthen the plant. All views are welcome. tomato_boy