BBC Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost has warned gardeners that sweet peas, a beloved fragrant annual climber, struggle in hot weather and do not recover well after heat stress. Speaking on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 weekend show on July 4, Frost explained why the plants can become 'spindly' and offered advice on how to avoid the problem.
Sweet Peas and Heat Stress
Frost attributed the spindly growth to recent weather patterns, saying: 'Probably the weather, early sort of feeding early on. I mean, sweet peas are normally better off started around Christmas time, maybe in glass, under sort of dark paper.' He added that early sowing and pinching out the tips helps establish strong plants, but the combination of cold, wet conditions followed by intense heat has been challenging.
'The problem is, we were sort of cold and wet, then we were really hot,' Frost noted. 'And I think as well, though, they are the sort of plants that a couple of days not quite getting enough water, they go, "I'm not sure about this". And I'm not... they don't necessarily recover that well.'
Expert Growing Advice
The Gardeners' World website recommends sowing sweet peas from October to April for best results, ideally in narrow, deep pots. It also advises picking blooms regularly to encourage more flowers and removing spent blooms and seed heads promptly, as 'flowering declines if plants set seed'.
Sweet peas are available in a range of colours including white, red, pink, coral, blue and violet, making them a popular choice for gardeners seeking fragrance and colour.
Frost on Leaving Gardens Behind
In a separate video for Gardeners' World Magazine, Frost discussed moving homes and leaving behind a cherished garden. He said: 'If you're leaving your house and you've gotta leave the garden that you've loved for a long period of time... if you're like me, I wouldn't worry about it at all, I've done exactly that. We left in October, what have I taken with me? Probably a few little bits I dug and divided, contained them. And then obviously I took all my pots with me.'
He added that the new owners were 'absolutely loving' the garden, suggesting that gardeners should not fret about leaving their creations behind.
