The Joy of Sweet Peas 54The Joy of Sweet Peas

by Laurie Burrell

One of the great pleasures mice cannot reach you One of the great pleasures in early summer is the should not have any probin early summer is the arrival of the Sweet Pea flowers and their beautiful lems. If you do not have a greenhouse a window arrival of the Sweet Pea flowers and their beautiful sent which gives great pleasure to everyone who you share your bountiful ledge in the kitchen or conservatory that faces the morning sun is suitasent which gives great pleasure to everyone who bunches with. They originally came from Sicily in the late seventeenth centuble. When your plants reach about 5 cm tall or are strong enough to hanyou share your bountiful ry and have since remained a popular flower dle transplant them into single pots of growing bunches with. They origi-plant to grow by gardeners compost that you can nally came from Sicily in in the United Kingdom. We are fortunate living in store in trays or toilet roll tubes filled with compost the late seventeenth century and have since reSouthern England that we can enjoy sweet pea flowers towards the end of May whereas our are also an alternative you can use. Handle the young plants very carefully and try not to mained a popular flower plant to grow by gardeners friends who grow them further North and in Scotland must wait up to three or four weeks later to cut their flowers. disturb their roots too much, I use a pencil as a dibber and try to lower the root down the hole carefully and just lightly firm them in. in the United Kingdom. Sweet pea seeds which are easily available in your local gardening centres are of a good We now come to the knotty question of picking the tops of the plants out when they have We are fortunate living in quality and the choices they stock are mainly grown four leaves, one expert recommends Southern England that we popular varieties and colours their customers tend to purchase. One word of caution in this, and another well-known sweet pea expert does not. The reason for picking out is to can enjoy sweet pea flowers towards the end of May whereas our growing your own plants from seeds is that you might lose ten percent of the seeds sown in the seed tray or soil. An alternative and encourage side shoots to form, and the other view is that they will form naturally if left alone. The theory being when side shoots friends who grow them further North and in Scotland must wait up to three or four weeks guaranteed way to start is to buy the seeds already raised as a collection of plants in a pot from any good local garden centre. form and you are ready to plant them out you allow the strongest shoots to grow initially on the plant, and once they have gained strength later to cut their flowers.Seeds are best grown in Root Trainers which are filled with a quantity of good quality seed and are growing well you can then remove the weakest shoot allowing the other to develSweet pea seeds which are easily available in compost and planted following the sowing op on its own. your local gardening centres are of a good guidance detailed by the supplier on their packets. They do not require any heat to propA good way for the the plants to gain height is to allow them climb up a wigwam of bamquality and the choices they stock are mainly popular varieties and colours their customers agate the seeds which should start to show shoots in about three weeks, do not over water the soil just moisten it with a fine water boo canes and trying them in loosely with plastic coated wire ties or garden string. As the plants get to about four feet, they will tend to purchase. One word of caution in growing your own plants from seeds is that spray after planting the seeds. If the compost is to wet, it can cause the seeds to rot before germinating. Mice and birds will appreciate start to develop flower shoots, and soon you will have beautiful flowers for the house. The more you cut the flowers the longer the sweet you might lose ten percent of the seeds sown the seeds if you leave the seed trays on the ground or in the open uncovered. An unheatpea plants will last. in the seed tray or soil. An alternative and ed green house with a level raised surface that guaranteed way to start is to buy the seeds already raised as a collection of plants in a 54 Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts www.villagematters.co.uk pot from any good local garden centre.