Tried & Tested: Scented Sweet Peas
Who can fail to be charmed by these romantic little blooms? Their delicate perfume and ability to grow practically anywhere make them a welcome addition to any garden.
On a mission to find the most fragrant and attractive varieties, the Gardening Which? team grew 80 separate plots from 20 different seed mixtures and have chosen their four favourites. We've listed them at the bottom of this article so you can have the most colourful and fragrant sweet peas in your own garden.
A Grower's Guide
One easy way to raise sweet peas is by seed. At this time of year, push a few seeds into a pot and place in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or conservatory.
Alternatively, start them off on a bright windowsill in a cool room. Seedlings will emerge in a fortnight. Once they have two or three true leaves, pinch out the tips to encourage side-shoots. By April, they'll be ready for planting out. It's important to keep picking either fresh or faded flowers at least twice a week to ensure more blooms develop.
For inspirational ideas coupled with reliable, research-based information subscribe to Gardening Which? For your free trial issue visit, www.gwfreetrial.co.uk.
Available from: Kings Seeds
Available from: Kings Seeds
Available from: Kings Seeds
Available from: Thompson & Morgan
One easy way to raise sweet peas is by seed. At this time of year, push a few seeds into a pot and place in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or conservatory.
Alternatively, start them off on a bright windowsill in a cool room. Seedlings will emerge in a fortnight. Once they have two or three true leaves, pinch out the tips to encourage side-shoots. By April, they'll be ready for planting out. It's important to keep picking either fresh or faded flowers at least twice a week to ensure more blooms develop.
For inspirational ideas coupled with reliable, research-based information subscribe to Gardening Which? For your free trial issue visit, www.gwfreetrial.co.uk.
Sweet Pea ‘Celebration’, £1.39 per pack (16 plants)
A favourite with its large flowers that come in subtle shades of cream, pastel pink and pale mauve. This variety was also picked out for its heady scent and long straight stems, perfect for cutting.Available from: Kings Seeds
Kings Special, 85p per pack (35 plants)
Medium to large blooms in white, various pinks and dark purple – but invest in an extra pack as the trial showed poor germination rates, with just over 50 per cent of seeds making it to the surface. However, given that each pack is just 85p, it won’t break the bank!Available from: Kings Seeds
Perfume Delight, £1.29 per pack (30 plants)
Out of the small-flowered mixes on test, this variety came out on top. It contains a lovely blend of lilac, pinks and contrasting dark-purple – although dead-heading is a bit fiddly.Available from: Kings Seeds
Sweet pea ‘Fragrantissima’, £2.49 per pack (35 seeds)
This mix includes a rather strident orangey-red combined with various pinks, purples and mauves. It has large blooms and because of its long stems was both easy for cutting and deadheading.Available from: Thompson & Morgan
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