10-MINUTE TIP: Make this your job for the weekend
Imagine wafts of divine scent and deep-coloured flowers as you enjoy a tipple this summer – what are the best fragrant sweet peas to choose? Many people advise soaking sweet pea seeds overnight or filing them to wear down the thick coat. I never bother with this and have always had a good rate of germination. Simply make sure seeds are well watered upon sowing, and you’ll be fine.
This year, I want the best fragrant sweet peas in deep, contrasting shades, as they’ll be growing against a black wall and beside a seating area. I’ve chosen three varieties, which I’ll mix up on trellises and obelisks.
My best fragrant sweet pea choices
They are:
- Matucana: An heirloom Grandiflora type, often confused with Cupani. First introduced into this country from Sicily. It dates back at least three centuries, with a very strong, sweet scent. The intense purple and violet bicolour blooms measure 4cm across, smaller than modern varieties, but the colour intensity and perfume make up for it.
- Windsor: Rich carmine-crimson with a wonderful scent to match. This modern Grandiflora has longer stems and an extended flowering season.
- Miss Wilmott: A pale orange and salmon pink bicolour with a lovely scent. An heirloom Grandiflora dating back to 1901.
I sow sweet peas three to a large yoghurt pot, as they’re deep enough to accommodate the roots until planting out time. Use multi-purpose compost rather than seed compost, as they’re in these pots longer than ordinary seeds and need the extra food.
Finally, pop them in a propagator/heat mat (20 °C is a good heat) and the seeds started coming up within a week. Once through, take them off the heat and make sure the seedlings get good light so they don’t become leggy.
