Sweet Peas

Julie Kemp

Hi why have my sweet peas become so tall with very little leaves?

 

Lynn Benge

I'm new to these but I have just bought some seedlings and I think when they have enough shoots, you are meant to pinch the tops of to promote a bushier growth, someone correct me if i am wrong.

 

Steve 309

That's correct, ladies , and welcome to the forum, both of you.

If they (or any plants for that matter) grow too tall and their leaves are small and few, it indicates that they've been short of light - very common in winter/early spring.  Are they outdoors or under some kind of protection?  They're pretty hardy, so if they're not in the open I'd suggest that you start hardening them off and put them in their pots somewhere sunny and sheltered outdoors.   Pinch out the growing point just above the second pair of leaves and it'll branch out from below there. Then when the weather gets a bit warmer they can be planted in their flowering positions.

David K is the expert on sweet peas and has a thread running, full of useful advice.  A site search will find it.

Good luck

Edit: I've just looked and I can't seem to find that thread!?  No doubt it'll turn up in due course.

Fairygirl

I've bumped it up Steve - Sweet Pea Know How is this year's title