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Hi all,I have some sweet pea's that are going over now.Some have seed pods,and I'm wondering....(1)Can you keep these and grow them next year?and (2)If so how soon can I pick the pods?I'm guessing you keep them in the usual way by placing in a paper bag?
I've also planted some raspberry canes in spring this year.Do I prune these back as its the first year?Someone told me yes and to prune ALL the canes back?Is this true?THanks in advance.

I don't think sweet peas ever come true from saved seed, they're so highly hybridized. That doesn't mean they wouldn't be nice though - give it a try. I've only tried it the once with no success, zero strike rate, but that might just be me.

I'd leave the raspberries alone for the first year but I'm sure there'll be lots of disagreements - raspberries cause more bother on here than any other subject!

Seeing that I just happen to have my "Growing Fruit" book next to me, I had a quick look...

"After planting, cut down the canes to a bud about 9 - 12 in above the ground." (Don't know whether you did that?)

"In the following spring, when the new canes appear, cut down the old stump to ground level before it fruits. This means forgoing a crop in the first summer but it ensures good establishment and the production of strong new canes in subsequent years."

Here's my twopennorth...Remember the No.1 reason for ANY pruning is to remove P&D (pest and disease).If you have any canes that look a bit iffy remove and burn.Also,if they've grown really well,you may like to thin them out a bit to keep the air circulating.....On the other hand you could leave them a year to build some vigour....so for me the answers maybe....and that's definite!
Either way,weed and mulch. BWs.

lol Ok thanks for the advice.I think I'll forfeit saving the sweet pea seed pods,and i do get the hybridised thing so yeah that makes sense.As for the raspberries? My gut feeling is to cut them down as someone suggested (thanks for looking that up too btw)then when they shoot new shoots next spring,cut those old canes down to ground level!lol lol Oh the joys of growing your own!

One other thing to note (also a contentious issue) depends on whether they are summer fruiting raspberries or autumn fruiting.
If they are summer fruiting, don't prune now or you won't get any fruit next year as they fruit on 1 year old wood, if they're autumn fruiting cut down to soil level soon, then you will get fruit on the new growth next autumn.
If you want to prune to ground level to build up stronger plants then by all means do it, but I have never found it necessary.

If you have planted a lot of rasps, you could always do half and half...