Heavenly scent
The Sweet pea has long been considered as the Queen of annual flowers, since there introduction at the end of the 17thcentury through the developtment of Henry Eckford (1823-1905), a nurseryman of Scottish descent, who cross-bred and developed the sweet pea, turning it from a rather insignificant, if sweetly scented flower, into the floral sensation of the late Victorian era. Also on to the early waved or Spencer varietiys full of perfume and up to date with the modern hybrids, that allow the grower to invite a host of celebrities in to the garden;
Terry Wogan a soft charming pink, Lady Diana a very attractive sweetly scented bloom with very pale lavender pink flowers Norman wisdom bears big, sweet smelling white flowers, emerging from primrose-tinted buds.
And who doesn’t need a little help from Alan Tichmarsh, an almost candyfloss pink, fading to cream, tends to be a bit blousy and sulks in cold weather.
Sweet Peas are actually very easy to grow. You can simply plant them in the soil where you intend them to grow in March or April here in the southwest and leave them to it. By July you should have flowers. However, to get the best from your seeds you should consider planting them in autumn or very early spring (February to March). This will enable you to have stronger and earlier flowering plants. I tend to sow then as the plants tend to flower on into late August, which will hopefully offer blooms for the village show.
Sweet Peas benefit from well-cultivated soil and adding a little well-rotted manure or organic compost will certainly help.
For best results use named varieties or cultivars in good potting compost and do not overcrowd – plant 1 seed to a 3 inch pot or 6 to 8 seeds to a 6 inch pot.
Place the pots in a cold frame or
greenhouse and cover them with newspaper until the seedlings have germinated.
If you are planting in January to February your seedlings may need a little
gentle heat to germinate. Make sure you stop the heat as soon as germination
has occurred; otherwise your plants will get leggy.
Sweet Peas perform best in an open sunny site.
For plants you wish to grow using the cordon method plant out your seedlings 8 to15 inches apart in rows from March or April in your previously prepared site Each plant will have its own cane to grow up.
If you want to grow your plants naturally, set plants 8 to12 inches apart and give them something to scramble up such as a fence with pea net, or a wigwam of canes with some string or raffia for the tendrils to catch on to.
Make sure your plants do not suffer from lack of water but remember not to water during the hottest part of the day.
Enjoy the flowers which should start to appear from late May to early June. To prolong flowering ensure that the flowers do not set seed, take the flowers into the house and enjoy their scent.
Tasks for July
As beds are cleared of early crops such as early potatoes,
lightly fork over the surface and sow fast growing vegetables like turnips
Lettuce, late peas or even a variety of early carrots.
These can be planted between rows of next winters
Brassicas, as they will mature before the winter vegetables need the extra
space, thus enabling two or even three crops off one bed in a year.
Keep weeds at bay with regular hoeing and weeding.
Deadhead flowers as buds fade, as this will prolong
flowering.
