THANKS to everyone who entered my sweet pea propagator set giveaway with Unwins. Gradually harden plants off before planting out into well-drained soil, from mid-March (if your soil is drying out and warming up - if in doubt, wait), 30cm (12") apart and support with tall canes or netting. Give them plenty of ventilation - you should only have 4-6" of growth by spring. The last thing they need is keeping them too warm, as that will lead to weak growth, susceptible to colder weather and pests. Even if all top foliage dies off, if there's a strong root system, there's a chance they will recover. They will survive temperatures as low as -5☌, but not prolonged freezing. Keep them in a frost-free place, such as an unheated greenhouse, porch or cold frame. You're aiming for plants with maximum root growth, not top growth. Pinch out the growing tip, when two pairs of leaves have formed, to encourage bushy growth. Once through, grow on in cooler conditions, making sure the seedlings have good light, to avoid weak, leggy growth, especially important when overwintering. Keep the pots moist, germination occurs in 12-21 days. Water well and place in a greenhouse, windowsill or thermostatically-controlled propagator at a temperature of 15☌ (60☏). Sow 1.5cm (½") deep, either five seeds per 12cm (5") pot of compost, or I find 3-4 seeds in a family-sized yoghurt pot works well, as they like a deep root run. SOME people swear by sowing sweet peas in pots in September/October, for earlier flowering, but they need to be overwintered in frost-free conditions.
Sow two seeds together, every 30cm (12"), then remove the weaker. You can sow directly outdoors in April-May, where they are to flower, 1.5cm (½") deep. Gradually harden plants off before planting out into well-drained soil, April-May, 30cm (12") apart and support with tall canes or netting. Once through, make sure the seedlings have good light, to avoid weak, leggy growth.
Water well and place in a greenhouse, cool windowsill or thermostatically-controlled propagator at a temperature of 15☌ (60☏). Sow indoors, January-March, 1.5cm (½") deep, either five seeds per 12cm (5") pot of compost, or 3-4 seeds in a family-sized yoghurt pot. I don't do either of these and have always had a good germination rate, as long as the soil is moist and the temperature constant. THERE are rituals surrounding sweet pea seeds: soaking them overnight to soften the seedcase filing a spot on the coat.
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