Sweet peas for colour

Sow bright sweet pea shades now for a riot of cheering colour and fresh cut flowers this summer, says Hazel Sillver, as she reveals the best types to buy

- Hazel Sillver

AS well as filling the air with perfume, many sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) inject the garden with colour throughout summer. Snipping a bunch every few days to enjoy fresh flowers in the house is one of the joys of summer and ensures that the plants continue to bloom for months. To look forward to this, these annual climbers should be sown now.

“You can sow sweet peas direct into the ground in spring,” says supplier Roger Parsons, who holds the National Collection of Lathyrus, “but they are vulnerable to slugs and birds, so I prefer to start them in a cold glasshouse or cold frame. Avoid giving them extra heat. If they’re on a windowsill with limited sunlight, move them to a sunny spot outdoors as soon as they germinate.”

Vivid colours

There is a great choice of varieties that provide vivid colour, including reds, pinks, blues, purples and dark, smouldering clarets. The easy way to decide which to buy is to select the type of sweet pea you want. Spencers are loved by florists for their big flowers and long stems, Old-fashioned forms boast charm, flower power, weather resilience and scent but have short stems, while Grandifloras have a mix of Spencer and Old-fashioned characteristics.

Fabulous choices