Sweet peas

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I have tried to grow some Sweet Peas in a purpose made wicker basket this year but the result was spectacularly rubbish. No flowers and the plants have gradually turned brown from the base of the stems, which has spread halfway up them. I've watered them well and fed them weekly (as the instructions stated), they were planted in good quality compost and I'm pretty sure the depth of the basket/compost was adequate. I bought small plants, ie I didn't grow them from seed. Has anyone any suggestions as to what I did wrong as I'd like to try again next year. I can't plant them in my garden as I don't have any room to do so.

madjackslam

It seems like you've done things properly, so difficult to say. Sometimes they can sulk when transplanted, or I'm wondering if you may have overwatered and fed too early in their life. Maybe it was just seasonal variation - temperatures wrong at the time... Maybe try planting seeds in the basket in autumn, and keeping the plants going over winter... Or maybe just try doing the same again next year, in the hope you were just unlucky.

malebolge

Just a thought - what was the drainage like in the basket? Depending where you live, this year has seen some very heavy periods of rain, and if you've not got good drainage the roots can rot. Sweet peas also suffer from mosaic virus and mildew so could be that, too. Considering your description, I'd say overwatering is most likely.

10_66

malebolge wrote: »

Just a thought - what was the drainage like in the basket? ...

I removed the polythene liner and replaced it with a hanging basket liner (a fibrous sort of thing) before planting to hopefully help with the drainage. I couldn't see any signs of mildew or anything like that. The leaves just started going brown from the base upwards and the plants didn't produce any flowers. Next year I'm going to plant seeds and grow them on myself to see if that gets a better result, I'm not green fingered, but it can't be any worse than this year's effort .

cazziebo

I think it's been a bad year. I've had some good years with sweet peas, and really pushed the boat out this year, buying several baskets and troughs and spending a fortune on seeds and plants. I think I've had one vase full!

Many haven't flowered at all. Some have flowered but quite sparsely. Only one plant has really "performed" (and it doesn't seem to be in much of a different situation from the failures!)

It has been a strange summer with periods of bright sunshine and then torrential, flooding rain. I love sweet peas so going to try again next year.

McKneff

Grow them up a trellis.....

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McKneff wrote: »

Grow them up a trellis.....

As mentioned in my original post, I haven't anywhere else to plant them.