[joyce c]

Whilst in a garden centre recently I saw some extra long pots, which are designed to plant sweet pea seeds in.  Does anyone know if these long pots are totally necessary, and/or does anyone know of any cheaper compromise.

[stompy]

Toilet rolls.
We collect them through the year.
Im also going to try parsnips in them this year, start them off in the greenhouse an then plant the whole thing out with a bulb planter 

[joyce c]

I had thought about loo roll/kitchen roll inserts, but wasn't sure if they'd go soggy.  Would you put more than 1 seed in each.  Snow's gone now, so itching to get into the garden. 

[stompy]

Yep, i would put 2 seeds in each roll
We buy a lot of mushrooms from morrisons, the cartons that they come in are ideal for holding the rolls upright and in place.
I fill each one with compost and firm down, then place the rolls in the container when you have filled the container with the rolls they stand up by themselves.
Then place in your seeds sieve compost or sand or what ever you use for topping off and fill the tray with water so that through capillary action the compost becomes wet.
The rolls will hold together just fine.

Don't use kitchen roll inners though as they are too thick.

[Trillium]

You could also make extra-long versions of Richy's paper pots

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=11390.0

[Spana]

I've been veg and flower gardening since i could stand but I  can not get sweetpea seed to germinate. They always rot, I must overwater but I'm always careful not to, I just cant do it
I'll try again this year in the loo roll tubes

[Trillium]

Spana, I used to have that problem until I started direct seeding them outside. The row is well prepped, seeds pushed in, then kept watered regularly until they sprout. I find they take off much faster than transplanted ones. I'm flush with sweetpeas all summer and into early fall. Just keep the flowers picked so they won't set seed and stop.

[Spana]

Right, thanks Trillium, I'll try that.  Ive got nothing to lose

[Paul Plots]

Some people reported having sowed their sweet-peas under-cover and having had success. Mine are still in the packet. Too cold to think about getting them started right now. 

[Terrier]

I've had them rot in  pots of compost in the past, so this year for an experiment, I sowed the seeds on top of the compost in a seed tray. When they germinated, I sprinkled compost over the top. I did this in the warmth of the house in November and most of the seeds germinated. The plants are now in the cold greenhouse and looking good and healthy.

[Paul Plots]

Sounds good Terrier... "cold greenhouse" is the word!

I think I am going to wait (hope it's not long) for the cold spell to grow and get mine in asp! 

[Trillium]

Yes, you should definitely wait a bit before sowing them at all. If your sowing spot is too cold, the seeds will either sulk or rot, so a bit more patience is needed.

[Paul Plots]

Yes, you should definitely wait a bit before sowing them at all. If your sowing spot is too cold, the seeds will either sulk or rot, so a bit more patience is needed.

Mine are going into pots in the warm... not sure where though. Heated propothingy or just wait? What do you think?

[Trillium]

Just wait. Sweetpeas aren't really into heated propogators.

[Spana]

My unheated greenhouse is a 36ft lean- to, facing south at the top of a slope and gets very hot.  Even now in this terrible weather its warm.  Just wondering if thats what my problem is , I'll try the straight into the ground method.