Sweet Peas

[Scrambled]

My sweet peas were sown 5 weeks ago and are showing no signs of life - they were in pots on the windowsill, inside zipped up freezer bags. Have moved them to the airing cupboard for more heat, but I'm wondering if they are just dud seeds.

Hollyhock seeds have been sprouting within 3 days of sowing, in the same conditions (but not needing the airing cupboard).

Am I being impatient?

[lancashire lass]

this is a link to the RHS page about growing sweet peas (please note the "milder areas" applies to mainly far south and coastal areas where the risk of frost is low compared to elsewhere):

"Sowing time
In milder areas sow during October or November and overwinter the young plants in cold frames or unheated glasshouse. In colder areas sow seeds in late March or April.

Alternatively sow directly into the ground in March or April, but the results are generally less satisfactory"

Also, I remember someone else telling me this though I personally had never had problems:

Some cultivars have a hard seed coat and may be more difficult to germinate. Chip the hard seed coat opposite the 'eye' (small, round scar) using a sharp penknife to help moisture entry and germination. Don't soak the seeds as they are prone to rotting

The suggestion to me was to scour the shell on sand paper.

[Scrambled]

Thanks for your reply. I did pre-soak mine, as instructed on the packet....think I'll wait til the weekend, if there's still no sign of life then I'll try to dig them out and chip them or sand them.

[Mercedes]

I planted some in propagators on the weekend, didn't realise you should do that to the outer coating until after I had planted them, said nothing on the packet about that or about soaking them first. I've got mine on a bright windowsill in one of the spare bedrooms, out of direct sunlight. I bought them thinking they would be easy

[wendy]

Planted mine a week or so ago. I never have any success with them. But a friend bought me the seeds named Spencer. So I am praying they take .
We will have to keep each other posted on how they go Lyn

[Mercedes]

Planted mine a week or so ago. I never have any success with them. But a friend bought me the seeds named Spencer. So I am praying they take .
We will have to keep each other posted on how they go Lyn

I hope you have success with yours Wendy. I love sweet peas, they were also one of my late father's favourite flowers. Last time I got some they were already potted up and growing up a wigwam in a pot. They didn't last very long, not sure why, so I thought at least with seed if they don't grow I'm not wasting so much money. Mind you the propagator wasn't the cheapest and then there is the growing medium to buy, all adds up!

I have 2 varieties sown, one is just a mix of patio sweet peas and the other is called 'High Scent' which seems an odd name

I have some friends in Devon who grow tons of sweet peas every Summer, they sent me some pics of just a fraction of the ones they brought indoors last year

[Mercedes]

I checked this morning and I have a total of 5 that are just sprouting, 3 in this little pot, 1 in another and 1 in the propagator with the lid on

[wendy]

Absolutely nothing with mine

[Mercedes]

Absolutely nothing with mine

I'm sure they will germinate Wendy, maybe different types germinate at different times? I thought the ones I had put in my propagators would germinate first, but it's the ones that I had left over that I put into pots with no lid on that are peeping through the soil, they have a mind of their own!

[wendy]

[Mercedes]

Absolutely nothing with mine

Anything yet Wendy

[wendy]

Nope

[Mercedes]

Mine seem to be doing quite well, I've taken them out of the spare bedroom and put them in the conservatory now as they are getting tall, although being sweet peas maybe that is how they are supposed to look

[wendy]

Mine are in the dog conservatory [no heat]
Maybe I should move them into ours.
Yours are looking good.