Eagle Sweet Peas

The Sweet Pea Specialist

Growing Instructions.

If possible start in the Autumn, usually early to mid October. The plants are raised at this time as no heat is required to germinate the seed, other than the normal heat of the day. DO NOT SOAK or CHIT the seed.

         Take the grow tube you are going to use and ¾ fill with a general purpose compost and soak well.

    Top up the pot with dry compost from the bag.

Plant the seed ¾ inch deep – DO NOT water again until germinated.

Cover with newspaper to stop compost drying out and place in a cold greenhouse or cold frame. (If sowing from November onwards place the pots in a warm greenhouse at about 10/15^oC, day and night, until germinated then put in a cold greenhouse or cold frame. Just protect from heavy frosts). Always use mouse traps to keep mice from eating the seeds as they germinate.

     As soon as you see the first sign of germination remove the newspaper, even if only one has come through. Usually this happens in 7 - 10 days.

     Leave the plants in a cold greenhouse or cold frame and protect from mice, slugs, heavy rain and severe frosts. Plants started in this way will withstand down to –5/6^oC. of frost. 

keep compost moist.

    When the plants have three sets of leaves showing remove the top of the plant above the 2^nd pair of leaves to encourage side shoots. 

    Plant out as soon as the ground is dry enough to get on. When the plants are flowering keep cutting, remove all dead heads and don’t let them go to seed as the plant will die.

    To get longer stems take out the side shoots and remove the tendrils, and tie the plant up.

   Keep ground moist and feed every week with a good plant food such as Phosphrogen or a tomato food.

   Keep removing old blooms from the plant. As the more you pick the more you get.