SWEET PEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 2

SWEET PEAS

SOWING IN POTS. Many successful growers and exhibitors have 'demonstrated very definitely the great advantage of sowing sweet peas in pots, and if sowing has not already been taken in hand, now time should be lost. Autumn sowing is especially recommended when very early sweet pea blooms are wanted. Sowing in pots should always be done , when new and expensive varieties are.being tried, as they are then so much more easily protected from slugs, birds, Or mice, any one of which can soon work sad havoc if a close watch is not maintained over the seeds when sown and also after germination. Any ordinarily good soil will be quite suitable, and when only a small number of plants is required it is well worth while to sow seeds singly in small pots. Where space is limited seeds can also be sown in shallow boxes and the Seedlings potted up singly in the early spring. Where, there is danger of trouble from mice it is a good plan to roll the seeds in a little red lead after they have been moistened with a little kerosene. This will keep them from harm until germination takes place. When sown the sweet pease should placed in a cold frame and kept close until they begin to grow, when they should be grown as hardily as possible right • through the winter. Coddling is quite unfavourable to healthy and sturdy growing. In a light and well-drained soil sweet peas may be sown out of doors in the open ground to withstand the winter but as in so many localities they cannot be relied on to come through the winter successfully they should not altogether be • depended upon, unless the grower has had experience of both soil and position.