Sweet Peas

Hello all,
By way of an experiment I collected a random amount of seed pods from my mixed variety sweet peas at the end of last summer, dried them off, and sowed the seeds collected this year. The seeds germinated OK and grew into good, healthy, plants. The strange thing is that all the blooms have appeared as the same colour, a dark ruby red, and have absolutely no scent whatsoever. Does anyone know why this happens, as a matter of interest.

 

Hi Hedgetrimmer,

Have no idea on that one but i have done the same with the pods from this years. I had them growing up an obelisk and they were doing really well 'til i broke my collarbone and my son took over the watering (not), and they kind of died :(

Will be interesting to see what happens with them. Is it too late to plant them on now do you think?

Sorry to answer ya question with a question but we all pick each others brains on here :D

 

Hi Paula
Thanks for getting back.I would say it is a bit late in the season for planting them on, especially if your weather has been anything like ours. I would wait until next spring. It would be interesting to know the outcome however. I think I will be sticking with the packet seeds from now on.

 

I would say collect as many seeds as you can, then next spring plant them with a mixture from a new pack. This way you retain the pleasant scent and get more blooms.

I find that after a couple of years of collecting seed and re sowing you will get the fragrance back.

 

Thanks Oktarine
Might just try that. It wasn't that I had few blooms. There are plenty, but all the same colour.

 

I'm concerned that this thread has appeared in the Edible Gardening category. I hope everyone knows that sweet peas should definitely NOT be eaten!

 

LOL Jbth

My neighbor gave me some of the seeds he had collected from his sweet peas last year, I grew them on and have a fabulous display, all different colours and scents.

Not sure whats happened to yours though

 

Hi Jack the Hedge,
I too can't understand why my thread appeared in the Edible Gardening category,as I definately did not post it to that location.
Thanks to all who took the time to respond.

 

Jack - you are correct.

However, like many I presume, I always plant sweet peas next to runner beans. I'm led to believe it helps with the pollination of the beans, and it looks good too!

 

I do that too.

 

I'm glad you pointed that out for me I have some seeds i was going to plant next spring and would have eaten them because of this thead.

 

Hi Im glad I read this I thought these were for the dinner table too

 

Ooops seems I'm not the only one that makes mistakes in the threads....don't worry guys it happens to us all but remember it's better to go hungry then end up in hospital!
Helen.xxx.