Picking Sweet Peas

GardenAmateur

Hi Monty Don has repeatedly said both on gw and in various writings to pick sweet peas every 10 days for long season,  so when the first flowers appeared I dutifully took a note to start picking in 10 days time and this is 2nd time I've done it, my question is what exactly does he mean by each one? I have sort of went for a half way house and picked every one that has even the slightest bit of colour, would you pick the ones in the photo or just leave them? Go a step further and take the buds  as well? I love having cut flowers in the house,  so want to maximise them as much as possible . More experienced opinions would be very welcome.

Thanks 

GardenAmateur

Fairygirl

I pick more often than every ten days.
Basically - just pick them as the flowers go over. You're trying to stop them forming seed pods,  as that prevents energy being put into producing more flowers.
Obviously - most people like to pick some for the house, but just pick as often as you're able - if you miss a few and they become pods, don't worry too much - just pick those off when you see them. 
Keep feeding and watering them well too - that extends the season of flowering. 

Sorry - I should have said - yes, you can pick them if they're buds, and they'll open in water in a vase. It also depends whether you want some for scent in the garden [round a seat or pergola etc] or if you only want them for picking and bringing indoors. 

herbaceous

I don't know what the more experienced folk do GardenAmateur but I take any stem that is 90% open flowers usually on a Friday. Can't be asked to work out 10 day intervals, just like the flowers 

Valley Gardener

I'm picking mine every second or third day,every single one that has any colour,they are flowering like mad!

GardenAmateur

herbaceous said:

I don't know what the more experienced folk do GardenAmateur but I take any stem that is 90% open flowers usually on a Friday. Can't be asked to work out 10 day intervals, just like the flowers 

Haha I put it in to my phone,  so ok don't pick the stragglers just ones with fullish flowers .

@Fairygirl @valley gardener. I have been picking them for vases 2 or 3 times a week but doing a big cut every 10 days per Monty Dons advice .

herbaceous

Personally I would just cut them as you are doing without the '10 day big cut' I don't get enough to do it that often and mine are perennial and suffering a bit at the moment.

fidgetbones

I pick every third day.  I missed one the other day and it had already formed a seedpod, so it came off tonight. They only last five days in a vase, so there is no way I would pick every ten days.  The stems on mine are already shortening. It is now raining, I hope it rains all night, and I will feed them tomorrow.

Fire

I take them as they are going over, but mine have very little scent this year. All varieties. I tend to pick most of my flowers for friends, so I pick anything going as and when needed. I def'ly didn't put enough SPs in this year. I could do with three times are many.

ChrisWM

I pick mine for cuttings daily, generally leaving those with buds. Even so, I get a good crop daily. 

JoeX

Erm I’m new to this - I’m really happy it’s flowering but don’t want to take all the flowers off.g . Should I be picking from this now?