Life's little pleasures
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday March 13, 2010
Pretty as a picture, sweet peas exude old-fashioned charm. THERE are so many beautiful plants that I find it impossible to have just one favourite. That said, I'm definitely partial to some plants more than others and sweet peas are among the flowers that really lift my spirits.These old-fashioned plants have such a delicate charm and delightful perfume. It's no wonder the symbolic meaning of the sweet pea in the language of flowers is "blissful pleasure".The sweet pea has been bred continuously since the 17th century and was so popular in the early 1900s that it became the symbol of Edwardian England. It also has a proud place in the history of science, as it was one of the main plants used by Gregor Mendel (1822-84) in experiments that led to the development of his genetic theory.Over the centuries, hundreds of cultivars have poured onto the market. While there are fewer cultivars today, the sweet pea will always be available.In Ireland, sweet peas were traditionally sown on March 17 - St Patrick's Day. Goodness knows how the Irish had time to plant them during their celebrations. It was claimed that plants sown on that day produced larger, more fragrant blooms. In warmer climates, such as Australia, sweet peas can be sown in autumn. If you miss St Patrick's Day, they can be sown until the end of the season. Spring sowings can be made in cold districts but buy seed now while it is readily available.You can't go wrong if you give sweet peas a position in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. Plant in humus-rich, well-drained, alkaline garden soil. If your soil is slightly acidic, apply dolomite or lime.Sweet peas propagate easily from seed or can be purchased in punnets. Look for the newly released Californian-bred 'Bubbles', a lightly fragrant sweet pea with blue and salmon shades. It is a prolific bloomer and reaches a height of 75-90 centimetres, making it ideal for growing on a teepee in a large pot.The wide choice of seed available includes tall climbing cultivars and low-growing bushy ones suited to pots. Yates's (yates.com.au) 'Bijou' and 'Potted Fragrance' are ideal for containers. 'Bijou' has brilliantly coloured flowers on long stems that are great for picking.Not all sweet pea varieties are fragrant, so check the packet for the magic word when purchasing.The long-stemmed flowers of Mr Fothergill's (mrfothergills.com.au) climbing 'Mammoth Mixed' are perfumed and the 'Old Fashioned' mix from the same supplier contains six different perfumed climbing varieties. While the blooms may be smaller than those of modern cultivars, they make up for it with fragrance.Sow seeds directly where they are to grow according to the directions on the packet. Unlike many other seeds, sweet peas do not appreciate being kept overly wet during the germination period. Over-watering is actually the most common cause of seed failure. You should, of course, increase the amount of water after the seedlings have emerged.You can encourage growth and flowering by feeding the plants with a complete soluble fertiliser as they develop. Sweet peas are similar to pansies: the more you pick, the more you get.It's time to ...Listen to the president of the Cactus and Succulent Society, Attila Kapitany, talk about native succulents on Wednesday, 10.30am-noon, at the Maiden Theatre, Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants and books will be available for purchase. Bookings essential. Contact Friends of the Gardens on 9231 8182 or friends@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au.Prune pelargoniums to keep them bushy. Use the prunings to make cuttings.Visit a rose nursery to choose plants in flower now.
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald
