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What type of support do sweet peas require?

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
in Plants
I'm planning on sowing some perennial variety- Lathyrus. Not sure what sort of support would be required.

 I don't want to put up  anything too elaborate-just something simple but adequate. 
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  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,454
    Hi, love the name, for some strange reason won't print my other pictures,( no,DD haven't learned how to reduce the size yet) hubby made these. The other 2 pictures were a rusty metal Obelixx and a twirly metal support,the tall rusty one,,I made the mistake last year of forgetting I had planted perennial sweet peas I planted the annuals,then the perennials shot up and overtook, they are pretty big and heavy. That's why I now have the smaller support. I sowed more recently and the annuals are growing more than an inch a Day,not one of the perennials has germinated, they are all new seed 
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    edited May 2021
    Hello I'm a bit confused by your post. :) What is DD? 

    Which are you saying are 'big & heavy-the annuals or the perennials? Or maybe the supports? 

    I maybe need more caffeine, I'll go make a brew. 😉


  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,454
    Sorry (, message for DD, was a regular poster,who was explaining how to make pictures smaller) The perennials are big and heavy,I forgot I had planted them because They die right back in winter,so I planted the annuals round these,then a few weeks later the perennials shot up and took over, apologies
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,454
    You had better be quick, time is getting on,and they take quite a while to germinate
  • justflowersjustflowers Posts: 141
    I grow mine up metal obelisks bought fairly cheaply at a local hardware / garden store - you can pay a fortune for them but if you go to cheaper suppliers they aren't expensive.  In the past I have simply used three beanpoles tied together at the top to make a wigwam - you do have to tie them to the support initially, but once they take off, they'll sort themselves out.  Sorry no pictures - I haven't mastered how to do that yet - so you're a lot further on than me @Nanny Beach !
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    edited May 2021
    It's ok Nanny. Thank you for mentioning that the perennials are big & heavy. That is worth knowing in respect of the support type. 

    Is it the stem part of the sweet peas that are heavy, or are the flowers exceptionally large?


  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,909
    It's the stems that are heavy. I used to have a couple just sprawling through shrubs. They're pretty unruly plants.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,236
    The perennials are different to the annuals as @JennyJ says. Flowers are similar in size and generally unscented.
    They're best against a fence or wall , or similar, and given wires or trellis to grow onto. Or grown through other shrubs as already said.  You wouldn't grow them in the more conventional way using obelisks or canes as they aren't suited to that.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    edited May 2021
    Ok Fairygirl, thank you for the clarification.🖒
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    edited May 2021
    At the moment, I have not decided what place in the garden would be ideal.

    I have this tree that has five trunks-not sure how or why. However, the space in the centre of these trunks is where I was thinking of planting one of the  Lathyrus. Assuming I can somehow contain enough soil down at the base. Unconventional I know, but why not.

    Having 5 natural outer supports already there, plus the area does catch the sun late in the day  it should be worth taking a punt with one of the 20 seeds/plants.
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