By Suzywonkles
Hampshire,
United Kingdom 
Sweet Peas
Hi, I've just bought some sweet pea seeds which I plan to grow in pots using bamboo in a wigwam effect. Is it too early to sow the seeds outside? And using 3 bamboo sticks would I plant one seed either side of the sticks or is one seed sufficient per stick? Also is it too early to sow morning glory seeds outside? Thanks !
19 Apr, 2012
Answers
Thanks, think I'll wait a bit then, I'm just impatient and want to get them in now but I hear we're in for a cold May.
19 Apr, 2012
id say there wont be to much frost anymore but dont hold ya breath lol xx .
19 Apr, 2012
Well we had some frost here earlier in the week, so who knows.
19 Apr, 2012
Certainly sow the sweet peas now, or even a month ago.
In my part of mid shropshire my plants were planted out in the garden on the 24th March.
As for pinching out, depends what variety you are growing.
Pinching out means side shoots develop from each set of leaves. It doesn't make the plant more vigorous as such. What makes the plant more vigorous is the number of side shoots you allow to grow. In garden soil for decoration, you could allow 2 shoots per plant per cane. In pots, i'd grow one shoot per plant per cane.
Pots need to be very deep, and the sweet peas at least 7" apart in the pot.
19 Apr, 2012
thats what i thaught that they could handle a bit of chill as long as its not cold all day etc .
19 Apr, 2012
Thank you Scrumpy, perhaps I'll sow them at the weekend. The variety I've bought is Spencer Special Mix. I did buy some sweet pea plants from GC a couple of weeks ago and planted them in the ground against a trellis, they seem to be doing ok and survived a couple of early morning frosts.
19 Apr, 2012
"thats what i thaught that they could handle a bit of chill as long as its not cold all day etc "
December, January and February they were in the cold frame. In February the temp got down to -6.c and the peas in the frame were frozen solid day and night. They are pretty hardy when the plants are well established:)
19 Apr, 2012
But it's ok to plant seeds direct into containers now Scrumpy?
19 Apr, 2012
Yes. Or you can start them off in individual 3" pots and transplant them later. See which works best.
Your spencer sweet peas will grow very tall so you need 8 foot canes.
19 Apr, 2012
Thank you Scrumpy, you've been most helpful.
19 Apr, 2012
and me suzy dont forget me lol x x .
20 Apr, 2012
Oh of course, thank you Nosey lol. Won't be doing anything outside today, its tipping down here! x
20 Apr, 2012
ditto lol x
20 Apr, 2012
Previous question
one a stick should be fine if that . as a basic rule of thumb once the frost has gone your safe and most plants are ok with a little bit of cold here and there .
19 Apr, 2012