Sweet pea germination rates

[Deereamer]

I grew a few sweet peas last year and loved them so much, I’ve really gone to town with them this year. I have every colour you can imagine. I reckon I’ve planted about 200 so far but my germination rate has only been about 50%. The seeds that have germinated have turned into nice healthy looking plants but I’ve no idea what has happened to the rest of them? Anyone have any ideas?

I bought some 'Eleanor Udall' sweet pea seeds in a seed catalogue sale, sowed them twice and got nothing so I am guessing they weren't very fresh. Legume seeds are usually quite long lasting. Maybe they were in bad storage conditions somewhere on their journey to you?

Thanks @MereDintofPandiculation. Something must've gone wrong somewhere to get nothing at all sowing twice.
Just watched Gardener's World from last week with Monty planting out his perfect, lustrous green SP plants. Mine look very poor in comparison. Maybe we should form a support group for perpetually disheartened SP growers?

If you've got a greenhouse or an unheated conservatory, I'd suggest you try sowing in autumn. Mine are now about 30cm high (still in greenhouse) so when I move them out they will be less attractive to slugs and earlier to flower. It seems easier to get them going in autumn when everything's still warm.

@Pootles34, thanks for the tip! I've just stuck the tips of mine into pots.

Can anyone explain exactly what ‘pinching out’ is? I can’t work it out from looking online

If you gently nip of the top of the first shoot that grows with your finger and thumb then it encourages the plant to send out new shoots so you get a bushier plant.

After it's grown 3 sets of leaves, snip just above the third set. It means the leaf joints will send out side shoots and you end up with lots of stems rather than just one long dangly one.

I’ve planted mine outside today. Bit nervous, but they should be ok.

I think I had 100% germination success. The 16th century seeds are really poor. 40% germination rate and teeny wizened things.

You're using 16th century seed? I'm not surprised they're wizened!

I grew them last year as well. Very beautiful and delicate, but hard to grow.

I’m not brave enough to plant any out yet - I checked today and I have 2 turquoise out of 14 planted so at least I’ll have a couple. I was hoping to team them up with some lilacs (also from Sarah raven) but they’ve not done very well either. I’m moving onto sunflowers tomorrow

Gah @deereamer where are you? If you've vaguely near Wiltshire you're very welcome to as many lilac suckers as you can handle - I gave both my lilacs a hard prune a couple of years ago and they've put up a million suckers since! Hopefully it'll get warmer into next week and we can plant out. Then only the slugs to contend with.

@SalaciousCrumble nowhere near Wiltshire unfortunately - shame we aren’t a bit closer I could have swapped you for some cosmos - I planted loads, as I’d never grown them before and I have so many now. I’m going to have to take some round to my favourite neighbours I think. Fingers crossed for a warmer week

10% success rate for me using sweet peas bought from Sarah Raven this year. Around the same last year. Planted one packet inside and a second packet in the unheated greenhouse. I'll try an autumn planting next year.

Hi
The main issue for non germination is usually around temperature. Sweet peas like cold!
You should plant ideally in a greenhouse at temperatures between 45-65 Fahrenheit. If you have to plant indoors it needs to be an unheated light room like a utility. Fresh compost! Chip the seed opposite the eye- better than soaking. Only water once when plant and then not again till germinate.
Either autumn planting or jan/feb and early March.
Pinch growing tip out after 2 sets of leaves.
Hope this all helps- long time poster but family have sweet pea seed business so I’ve learnt!

@Dinkydoos - top tips, thank you. I'll follow your advice next year!

@Dinkydoos thanks for the tips! That’s really helpful. I’ll screenshot and give that a try next year

Glad to help

And for best flowers- sweet peas are greedy plants
You need to place maybe a max of 6 germinated plants in a very large and very deep pot with fresh compost.
They need a weekly tomato feed
Take off all tendrils etc as they grow.
And keep cutting!

Ooo thanks @Dinkydoos. Seriously useful advice.

I’ve fed my sweet peas. But they are outside in the ground now. They are fairly hardy. Monty put his outside last week.