Plant of the Week: Sweet peas
Normally, if you want the strongest, the fittest, the best
sweet peas possible, you sow the hard-coated seeds in
autumn.
They germinate and produce healthy young plants to be planted out in early spring (OK, some people actually plant them outdoors in a cold frame as early as the start of March).
Whenever there's a threat of frost, close the frame and, to make doubly sure that its precious occupants are safe and relatively warm, cover it with old carpet or something equally suitable.
But if you missed the autumn sowing, sow the seeds now.
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Hide AdSome gardeners soak them for 24 hours or chip them, nicking the hard coating with a sharp knife. This encourages germination.
Put two or three seeds into a deep pot filled with good compost and keep them reasonably
warm.
When the plants appear, put them into the greenhouse or
that cold frame.
YP MAG 8/1/11