Sweet Pea Seeds 'Heathcliff'

• Striking two-tone purple and magenta flowers
• Intense, heady fragrance
• Beautiful trained over an arch or obelisk
• Superb cut flowers

With its large, highly scented deep violet-blue blooms on long stems, Sweet Pea ‘Heathcliff’ adds a touch of drama to the garden in summer. The purple tones combine beautifully with soft pinks and make a vibrant contrast to warm oranges.

This superb variety holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Train it over an arch or up a trellis to show off the beautiful blooms. Excellent as a cut flower, lasting well in a vase.

Sow indoors

Almost fill 12cm (5in) pots with seed and cutting compost. Sow five seeds, evenly spaced, per pot and lightly cover with a little more compost. Water well after sowing, but not again until seedlings have emerged. Place in warmth 10-15°C (50-60°F).

Grow on/plant out

Grow on in unheated conditions, ideally in a cold frame. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier plant growth and more flowers. Plant out 20cm (8in) apart from March onwards in a sunny position.

Sow outdoors

Sow seeds in pre-watered, warm soil 2cm (1in) deep, 10cm (4in) apart. Keep soil moist until seedlings emerge.

Aftercare

Support young plants with canes, netting or trellis to about 1.8m (6ft). Feed and water regularly. Pick flowers often to ensure a continuous supply.

Tips

Feed and water plants regularly, pick flowers often to ensure continuous supply. Autumn sowings produce stronger, earlier flowering plants. Overwinter seedlings in a cold frame or under cloches.