Planting sweet peas now

Will they be OK on a windowsill till next year? If so, I have warm and sunny or cool and shady, which would be best?
And, how big will they get before summer, will they need staking?
Thanks

 

Hiya.

I windowsill will be fine for them, I tend to keep mine cool but with light once germinated. Then it's best to pinch them out to stop them from getting to big and to encourage side shoots. If you harden them off they will be good for planting once the risk of frost has passed. Unless they're a dwarf variety thay will need something to climb up and be tied into.

Hope this helps, I think I'm right

 

I found this helpful http://www.eaglesweetpeas.co.uk/Instuctions.htm

and I bought some "tube pots" from them - about 3" diameter, 6" deep, which I'm going to try in the next few days

 

I bought some sweet peas and intended to plant them next spring ,i was going to use toilet roll tubes though, they come free :lollol:

 

Thanks for the information Kristen - I bought some seeds today and will plant them tomorrow.

 

I used to use this idea too Pam but stopped when some strange fungus started to grow not from the compost but the toilet rolls themselves although I have to admit they were handy for checking the root growth.Hel.xxx.

 

I did the rolled up newspaper thing and that happened with those too. The paper content must be what does it I think, it doesn`t ever dry

 

Why not just wait and sow the seeds in Spring? They grow like weeds once established...don't they?

 

they can be sown in spring but over wintering premotes aerlier flowering

 

The white furry mould is organic so it all helps

 

How much earlier do they flower if sown over winter, and when can they be planted outside?

 

I prefer to sow mine mid Feb start off in my elect propagator and then when just starting to germinate keep and eye on them as dont want too leggy then take out and watch thme spurt into growth.

Then move out into my greenhouses end March as its starting toget a wee bit warmer.

 

Mine are in and are up about 3ins in the open ground well by a sheltered wall,
I did this last year as the seeds ripened on my plants I just opened the ripened pods and put them straight in the ground, the resulting plants were in flower in May and continued until late Semptember had a lovely trouble free show
original seeds were Unwins "Southampton" the perfume is heavenly the flower a large frilly pink.

 

I might try it with a few in that case. I have collected loads of seeds from this year's crop and bought more (well they were on sale!)

 

I don`t want to contradict you, but, are you sure this is true-because I could kick myself, I have thrown out loads of seedlings in my time because of this. I will be extremely annoyed with myself.