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Post by keith on Mar 11, 2018 4:09:16 GMT
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Post by SueA on Mar 11, 2018 8:54:12 GMT
Hi keith, I'm not really the best person to advise on sweetpeas as mine often get eaten by slugs & snails  but I imagine those are not a big problem for you in the heat over there. It might be a nice idea to fix a trellis to the fence & tie the sweetpeas in to that as they grow unless you want to tie them to canes or small obelisks in the border. I would make sure you keep on top of the watering though or you will end up with dried up crispy stalks instead of beautiful flowers. sweetpea on here has a lot of experience & may be able to answer any questions for you. |
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Post by sweetpea on Mar 11, 2018 12:34:59 GMT
Hi keith have only just saw this post and to be honest not fully awake yet. yes I know  Anyway the sweetpeas you mentioned ie multiflora are quite easy to grow. it is only when growing for exhibition that special conditions have to be met so, rig up some structure to support the climbing plants whether it be trellis, pea/bean netting (stretched taut as you can) or just bushy sticks. At this time of year all you need to do is sow the seeds direct where they are to grow about 1 - 1 1/2 " deep and stand back and watch them grow. Some slug protection in the early stages may be worthwhile or just stick an upturned jar/plastic bottle over the emerging shoots for the first week or so until they get underway. no need to tie in as they will climb up using their tendrils but when they do start to flower cut the stems off and keep cutting as they flower. if you let them go to seed they will eventually cease flowering. ideally the ground would have been prepared well in advance of sowing but too late for that now so an OCCASIONAL WEAK feed with something like phostrogen will help to keep them going for longer. in future years try and prepare your planting area before New Year to allow it to settle and sow your seeds in pots anytime from early October through to mid November. 2 seeds to a 3" pot or 6 seeds to a 5" pot using a SOIL based compost NOT Soilless JI 1 would be fine. if you decide to for in to exhibiting at shows then that is a different ball game entirely and my advice would be to join the NSPS. good luck |
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Post by keith on Mar 13, 2018 4:42:03 GMT
Sweetpea
Thank you for your reply.
At the moment I have Portulaca growing in that area but plenty of room behind to add a few goodies to the soil. I always use Snail Food.
How far apart would you plant them?
NSPS I have been there and done all that with Orchid and Garden clubs.
Keith
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Post by Cherry on Mar 13, 2018 10:28:48 GMT
Where are you gardening keith? I notice you get snails, so it must be somewhere wet. My gardening was in the dry tropics and we could not grow sweet peas, but we had no bother with slugs and snails. Possums, yes. sweetpea is an expert on sweet peas. |
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Post by sweetpea on Mar 13, 2018 12:22:08 GMT
Sweetpea Thank you for your reply. At the moment I have Portulaca growing in that area but plenty of room behind to add a few goodies to the soil. I always use Snail Food. How far apart would you plant them?
NSPS I have been there and done all that with Orchid and Garden clubs. Keith if growing cordon style ie individually up canes I tend to space 9" apart but on the so called 'Bush' system which I am assuming you will be using for multfloras then I would give more room say twice that. It rather depends on whether you plant individual plants or a potful of 5 or 6. If just sowing seeds direct then I would thin any surplus to around 15" - 18" but it is not critical as you should still get blooms anyway. The more crowded they are the more the length of stem is affected which in turn restricts the type of display in the vase etc. ps Cherry kindly calls me an 'Expert' but I am no such thing, just someone who has a long history of growing and showing although I no longer grow to show. As with most things, trial and error and whatever works for you is best. |
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Post by keith on Mar 14, 2018 6:00:58 GMT
Cherry I live south of Melbourne Aust close to the coast. Sweetpea I can easily thin them out but the wife likes more flowers and that means close to each other. That would then allow a few seedlings for the snails and possums. We used to have a very large Brush Tail but now only the little Ring Tails Keith  |
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Post by Cherry on Mar 14, 2018 8:50:23 GMT
I come from Melbourne and have lots of rellies there. It is an exciting city and I like the changes since I lived there, such as the cafes in the lanes. I actually lived on the family orchard in Croydon. This is the reason for the cherry. I would not grow for maximum flowers, because I used to get in a mess with them growing where they wanted to grow, like undisciplined children. sweetpea IS an expert and was successful at exhibiting sweet peas. Good luck with your sweet peas keith. I am sure they will be beautiful. Keep us posted please. |
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Post by keith on Mar 15, 2018 1:50:38 GMT
Cherry
I actually lived on the family orchard in Croydon. Not being rude that was not yesterday. We have lived in Rosebud for 42 years now.
I ordered them today.
Keith
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Post by Cherry on Mar 15, 2018 9:01:48 GMT
Had a holiday house in Rosebud and brother now lives in West Rosebud, which I think has a new name. Your soil will be sandy, all the way to the back beach actually. Memories!
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Post by keith on Mar 16, 2018 4:37:22 GMT
Cherry
ROSEBUD West is now Capel Sound.
Sandy soil it sure is.
We tried every thing over the years now we use Sugar Cane it takes a full season to break down and does not take any thing out of the soil. The two front large areas all leaves as they fall works perfectly.
Keith
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Post by chrism on May 7, 2018 17:44:56 GMT
I’ll be ordering Matucana soon. Plus something for the slugs...
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but I imagine those are not a big problem for you in the heat over there. It might be a nice idea to fix a trellis to the fence & tie the sweetpeas in to that as they grow unless you want to tie them to canes or small obelisks in the border. I would make sure you keep on top of the watering though or you will end up with dried up crispy stalks instead of beautiful flowers. 
