Dear Sven,

I absolutely love sweet peas and plan to try growing some for the first time (I'm a real gardening beginner!). My neighbour says that December is the best time for sowing the seeds. Is he right? Surely nothing will grow when it's so cold!? Also, do you have any growing tips for me?

Thanks, I love your shows,

Wendy

UKTV Style's Gardens Expert replies:

Dear Wendy,

The time to sow sweet peas is October in mild areas and in colder areas the best time is late March and April. The seeds are best planted in seed compost in deep pots so the roots can establish well. To help the seeds germinate give them each a nick opposite the eye with a really sharp knife. Then sow the seeds 1cm deep give them a good water, cover them with a small sheet of glass or put them in a propagator and keep them at around 15°C. Once they emerge you can put them in a cold frame.

Keep the cold frame open as often as you can but avoid heavy frosts and keep them out of the hard rain. This is to help harden them off ready for planting out. If sown in autumn pinch out the growing tips when they are 10cm and with spring sown seedlings pinch just above the 1st two leaves. This basically encourages the seedlings to branch out sideways.

Autumn sown plants should be planted out in mid-spring and spring sown in late spring. They like a humus-rich soil in plenty of sun.

Good luck!

Sven