Forum home Plants

Ever too late to pinch out?

earlydazeearlydaze Posts: 100
Have not yet pinched out sweet peas and cobaea- both of which are 12 inches high with tendrils- is it too late? Is it ever too late? Like many (I assume) I have a bit of pinching out fear!

Posts

  • I have never found it to be too late to pinch out. I usually pinch mine out to about 3 sets of true leaves.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    No, certainly not too late  - just pinch out  :)
    12 inches is very big though. Did you sow all those in autumn? They would have benefited from pinching out much sooner, but they'll be fine.
    The main problem arises when too much heat is used for sweet peas - they just don't need extra heat at all , to germinate or to grow on.
    Cobaeas need a reasonable amount of warmth to get going, and to thrive, as they're different from s. peas. They're not hardy annuals.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • earlydazeearlydaze Posts: 100
    These were sown in mid-late Jan- just growing  very well. The sweet peas are in greenhouse and cobaea inside on a window ledge. Will pinch out today!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    Must be very mild where you are to have that amount of growth so quickly!
    I don't usually sow s. peas until around mid March, as it's not easy for getting them outside in late April/early May, although I sowed some about 10 days ago, just as an experiment. They're a couple of inches high. My kitchen is currently about 12 degrees this morning, so probably colder than most. It makes for sturdier plants though.
    You'll need to be careful about hardening them off when the time comes - don't over cosset them, especially if your greenhouse gets to high temps through next month.
    Make sure there's good ventilation, and get them outside as much as possible, even just now if conditions are ok. It's rough weather - ie wind/rain, that does the most damage when they're young plants     :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.