Sweet peas ... what to do over winter?

Hi folks,

My wife's sown some Sweet Peas for next year in some cells and with the warm-ish weather they have all germinated well and are now about 4 inches high.

My question is, what should we do with them over the winter?

We don't have a greenhouse or a cold-frame, only a sheltered, small, back garden. They are getting a bit leggy already so I'd rather not bring them inside with lower light levels, but will they survive frosts without protection, or would they be alright under some fleece or something? Should we bring them inside if it gets really cold?

They're not really my thing but fell I should really give them the best chance, so advice sought!

Ta

Kris

 

in my climate they seem to go through the frost without problems.

 

Mine planted too late have died.

 

I would nip them out at about 3 leaf-pairs so they bush up. One/Some of the secondary stems is always stronger than the primary.

I used to sow mine in Autumn, but found ti a hassle to over winter them, and I now sow them (indoors) in January and then once they are pricked out they go into the cold greenhouse. I don't think they are any/much slower to get away in the Spring, and I have a much higher success rate than the, somewhat neglected!, Autumn sown ones I used to raise.

 

That's what I do (sow in January-ish). Soak them for 24 / 48 hours, then prick out, once they germinate, into pots made from newspaper - I think that Sweet Peas need a really deep pot. I grow 100-150 each year that way, and always get a good crop of flowers

 

OK January it is then. One each into a loo roll middle with a nice free draining compo. mix and into the mini GH when they've germinated. Let's hope for a winter that's not too cruel.
Jenny

 

Thanks folks ... we'll see how the winter goes and sow some more in Jan!

 

I'm not going to sow mine whilst March ....did the Autumn sowing last year which were ok but found that the march ones proved just as successfull if not more so

 

I have my seedlings in the garage by the window, the are about 3 -4 inches tall, will nip them out. They seem happy enough.

This is the first year, I have sown sweet peas in the autumn, so I am happy with things at the moment.

 

OMG FC! Nothing like forward planning then is there!!
Jenny

 

He'll sow some in March Jenny ...he won't be able to resist....eh FC

 

Hey come on who can't resist Sweet Peas...that's what summer is all about