Sweet peas are perfuming the air this week at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, where the Sweet Pea Show, run by the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, gets under way next Saturday. This annual festival dedicated to the nation's favourite scented flowers is a feast for the senses, and brings together Ireland's top sweet pea growers to vie for the honour of best in show.
The delicate flowers of sweet peas in exquisite shades from white and pink through to cerise, plum and deepest purple may look exotic, but they're actually among the easiest flowers you can grow. Pop down the garden centre and pick up plenty of seed ready for planting in autumn. Look out for heavily-scented heritage variety 'Cupani' (also known as 'Matucana'), or for bigger, more showy flowers go for brilliant pink 'Gwendoline' or perhaps white-and-lilac 'Lilac Ripple'.
Sow in deep pots to give them the long root run they need: the special rootrainer modules in our garden centre are ideal. Start them in October, to overwinter in a coldframe as seedlings for flowers to fill every vase in your house from June onwards.
The Sweet Pea Show runs from Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th July, 12-5pm. For more details visit www.rhsi.ie.
