The Sweet Pea That Got Away…

No matter how long the winter or how well I think I’ve prepared for the gardening year ahead, there’s always one job that somehow slips through the cracks. This year? Sweet Peas. My trusty seeds sat in the packet, untouched, well past the ideal sowing window.

I usually get them going in September, on the kitchen windowsill in small pots. The warmth encourages quick germination, but the cooler months that follow slow their growth, meaning I end up with strong, healthy young plants ready to hit the ground running in spring. They always do better than seeds sown in spring – a proper head start.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I gave that very tip in this space last September. But in my case this year? Do as I say, not as I do. Not one Sweet Pea seed was sown in the Dowdall household before winter.

Sown Late, But Still Worth It 🌱

By the time April rolled around, I accepted defeat and sowed them directly into the soil outdoors. I’ve spent the past couple of months coaxing the little things along — guiding them with twine, willing them to climb. And climb they did. They’re on their way now and they will flower — just later than I’d like.

And that’s a pity, because Sweet Peas are summer in a vase. The scent is unmistakable. There’s nothing quite like bringing a bunch indoors and letting that perfume fill the room — pure nostalgia.

If you were better organised than me, your seedlings are probably flowering now. But even if they’re not, the best thing you can do is keep cutting them — the more flowers you cut, the more they’ll produce.

Always Choose Scented Varieties 🌼

Sweet Peas are among the most hybridised plants out there. With all that breeding for colour and form, scent is often sacrificed. And to me, a Sweet Pea with no scent is like chips without salt and vinegar — pretty, but disappointing.

So when you’re choosing seed for next season, make sure it’s a strongly scented strain. You’ll thank yourself next summer when the air is filled with that glorious fragrance.

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'Memories' That Stop You in Your Tracks

Speaking of scent — let me introduce you to a Carnation that genuinely stopped me in my tracks this summer. It’s called ‘Memories’, bred by Whetman Pinks in the UK. You might know its ancestor, ‘Mrs Sinkins’ (a garden stalwart since 1863), and ‘Memories’ is its beautifully improved descendant.

Its full white flowers perch on 25cm stems and the clove-like scent is nothing short of magical. You stick your nose into the blooms, and in that moment, you’re transported — right back to your childhood garden, Sunday afternoons, or whatever memory your nose unlocks. After all, scent is the sense most tied to memory.

Grown by Young Nurseries in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, these beauties should be available in good garden centres around the country. I didn’t hesitate — I popped one straight into my own garden, taking my own advice for once!

Looking Ahead to September

So, will I manage to sow my Sweet Peas this September? Time will tell. But at least I’ll be enjoying the 'Memories' while I wait. And let’s face it — gardening isn’t about perfection. It’s about moments. And whether it’s a late bloom or a scent that takes you somewhere lovely, those moments make it all worthwhile.

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