Last year I grew sweet pea ‘Matucana‘ all over willow obelisks in my garden. I’ve always had an awkward relationship with sweet peas: some of the colours remind me of thermal vests, and I used to think them an old lady plant.
That all changed when a good friend of mine picked me some from her garden to sit on my desk at work. They were terribly distracting as they smelt amazing, and my very lovely friend had grown some real beauties. So, buoyed by my success last year with ‘Matucana’, here’s my 2010 sweet pea seed selection.
‘Blackberry’ I love these wine-coloured flowers, which I will be pairing with Cobaea scandens and some purple-podded culinary peas.
‘Cupani’ This is one of the oldest sweet peas about, along with Matucana. I’ve saved my ‘Matucana’ seeds, and in the interests of comparing the two for scent (which if last year’s display is anything to go by, is phenomenal’), am buying ‘Cupani’ as well.
‘Rosy Frills’ These are just marvellously girly. I love them, but will make sure I tone them down a little by planting among darker, heavier flowers so my garden doesn’t look like a Barbie tribute.
‘Sunset’ And these are also rather girly. I love the different sides of the petals, and will probably grow these on the balcony, for easy pickings.
‘Hero’ This is the sweet pea I am the most excited about, as it looks like a beautiful evening dress. I can’t wait to see it scrambling over willow sticks with my purple climbing french beans.
I sowed my seeds, saved and bought, this weekend. I soaked them in lukewarm water overnight before sowing on the lightest windowsill in the house. I use toilet roll pots, which are suitably deep for the plants to produce good root systems. And once the plants are four inches tall, I will pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth. I love every stage of growing these plants, from the childlike young leaves to collecting the twisting seed pods at the end of the year. And this year, with my new sweet selection of sweet peas, I really will have all the fun.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Gorgeous selection of sweet peas. I love them to bits, always have done. The flowers are pretty, the scent is heavenly and they flower for months and months.
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Hi Issy,
I absolutely adore your last pick, ‘Hero’, it looks absolutely stunning. I have never grown sweet peas but similarly to you a friend of mine gave me a bunch last year and I was smitten.
I’m going on a willow weaving course shortly and I’m hoping to make my own obelisks. Who knows I may end up growing ‘Hero’ too!
Ryan
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Beautiful photos and selection of sweet peas!! Your bouquet is lovely!!
on Feb 1st, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I think ‘hero’ is my favourite too. Although I’m a bit crazy about them all, actually. Very excited about having such a yummy smelling garden this year.
on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 3:23 am
Most lathyrus that I know have been of light pastel colours. Your post made me do a little search as I just love the ‘Blackberry’ and ‘Hero’ in particular and I will be adding some to my seed order for this year.
Lene
on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I have grown sweet peas for years and years. They are just about my favourite flower and I cannot get enough of them. Beautiful pictures. I love Rosy Frills and they look just like the picture you have. You might look into Lilac Ripple and Castle of Mey, as well.
on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
ohhh ahhhh! thank you for reminding me of these sweet flowers- sorry, but I really like the girly ones! They are just so pretty and springy. What’s a toilet roll pot? Is it exactly what it sounds like?
on Feb 2nd, 2010 at 9:44 pm
hi kaarina, glad there’s someone else out there who’s unashamedly girly too! Toilet roll pots are just modules made from the inner tubes of toilet rolls. Here’s a link:
http://fennelandfern.co.uk/2009/01/17/garden-from-scratch-5-in-the-beginning-2/
I also sow a lot of my seeds in newspaper pots, and there’s a link here: http://fennelandfern.co.uk/2009/04/24/newspaper-pots/
Hope those help!
Oh, and thanks for the comments on the photos - they are actually (with the exception of the seed pod) by the lovely folk at Unwins.
Isabel