Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas are a delight to grow and have the ability to fill your garden (and your home!) with beautiful sweetly scented blooms in a variety of wonderful colours. They are very easy to grow with the most ordinary care yet will reward a little extra effort with even more wonderful results.

Whilst many insist that Autumn is the very best time for sowing sweet peas superb results can be had from spring sowing – sweet peas can even be direct sown in their final position as late as early April. It is probably true to say, however, that the finest exhibition quality sweet pea blooms come from October sowings as these plants have the best possible root systems. Sow into 4 to 6in pots using a good quality free draining compost - John Innes No 1 gives good results - making sure that the compost is moist and free from lumps. A 4in pot will accommodate about 7 seeds and a 6in pot up to double this quantity. Sow at a depth of about 1in, firm gently and water well.