In the garden with GBN: Grow vibrant sweet peas at home using a toilet roll hack

GB News shares all the tips and tricks you need to know to grow these in your outdoor space including how toilet roll can help you get started, according to director of Seed Barn Shane Dibbs.

He told GB News: "For best results, you should plant sweet peas undercover between October and April. Toilet rolls are an ideal container for sweet peas as they provide a deep, narrow root run.

"If you sow into a short and ill-fitting pot, it doesn’t give the roots as much of a chance to grow and branch."

While we are past the optimal time for planting this year, those who have sweet peas already in their gardens can benefit from care steps, such as using fertilisers.

Shane added: "When sweet peas are 10cm tall, pinch out the tips to encourage sweet peas to flourish. Plant in mid-spring and keep well watered. Most varieties have tendrils that will cling independently to supports, but some sweetpeas will need tying in.

"Feed your sweet peas with a high potash fertiliser (such as tomato food) when flower buds begin to appear. Regular picking encourages sweet peas to produce more side shoots, and ultimately more flowers."

Sweet peas thrive in sunny locations so keep this in mind when planting, and remember to prune regularly to ensure they thrive.

The expert continued: "For vibrant sweet peas, select high-quality seeds and plant them in a sunny location with well-draining soil. Provide sturdy support for climbing, maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging, and feed regularly with a well-balanced fertiliser.

"Prune regularly to encourage branching and remove spent blooms to prolong flowering and promote healthy growth."

Sweet pea jobs at different times of the year

Spring: "Spring is the perfect time to plant sweet pea seeds. It’s important to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. As temperatures rise, it’s important this isn’t neglected."

Summer: "In summer, turn your attention to deeply watering to ensure your roots have access to moisture. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your sweet pea plants to help retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth and also regulate soil temperature.

"Keep a close eye on common pests such as aphids, spider mites and caterpillars. These can be properly controlled by spraying insecticidal soap or neem oil."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Two types of blooms to prune before the end of July to ensure ‘continual flowering’
• 'Magic fertiliser' made from kitchen scraps has '100% success rate' for flowering and fruiting plants
• ‘Easiest trick’ to ‘multiply flowers without planting more’

Autumn: "As autumn rolls around, turn your attention to harvesting seeds. Allow some of the sweet pea flowers to mature and produce seed pods, once they turn brown and dry, harvest these seeds for planting in the spring.

"Store the seeds in a cool dry place until they are ready for planting. Take this time to amend the soil in your sweet pea bed with organic soil such as compost. This helps to replenish nutrients and improve soil structure, in preparation for spring planting."

Winter: "The winter months are the ideal time to do some cleanup and maintenance. Remove any dead or decaying plant material from the garden bed. This helps prevent the spread of disease and reduces the risk of pests hibernating over winter."

Looking for more gardening advice? GB News shares everything you need to know to help houseplants thrive during summer. Or read our guide on caring for asters.