Last year I grew sweet pea ‘Matucana‘ all over willow obelisks in my garden. I’ve always had an awkward relationship with sweet peas: some of the colours remind me of thermal vests, and I used to think them an old lady plant.

That all changed when a good friend of mine picked me some from her garden to sit on my desk at work. They were terribly distracting as they smelt amazing, and my very lovely friend had grown some real beauties. So, buoyed by my success last year with ‘Matucana’, here’s my 2010 sweet pea seed selection.

‘Blackberry’ I love these wine-coloured flowers, which I will be pairing with Cobaea scandens and some purple-podded culinary peas.

‘Cupani’ This is one of the oldest sweet peas about, along with Matucana. I’ve saved my ‘Matucana’ seeds, and in the interests of comparing the two for scent (which if last year’s display is anything to go by, is phenomenal’), am buying ‘Cupani’ as well.

‘Rosy Frills’ These are just marvellously girly. I love them, but will make sure I tone them down a little by planting among darker, heavier flowers so my garden doesn’t look like a Barbie tribute.

‘Sunset’ And these are also rather girly. I love the different sides of the petals, and will probably grow these on the balcony, for easy pickings.

‘Hero’ This is the sweet pea I am the most excited about, as it looks like a beautiful evening dress. I can’t wait to see it scrambling over willow sticks with my purple climbing french beans.

I sowed my seeds, saved and bought, this weekend. I soaked them in lukewarm water overnight before sowing on the lightest windowsill in the house. I use toilet roll pots, which are suitably deep for the plants to produce good root systems. And once the plants are four inches tall, I will pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth. I love every stage of growing these plants, from the childlike young leaves to collecting the twisting seed pods at the end of the year. And this year, with my new sweet selection of sweet peas, I really will have all the fun.