Scent vs. show

Modern grandiflora sweet peas (large, ruffled) tend to lose scent. For perfume, return to the older Spencer or heritage varieties: 'Matucana' (purple-magenta, almost vapour-strong), 'Cupani', 'Painted Lady', 'High Scent'.

For cutting: a mix of single colours grown in rows beats a packet of mixed seed every time. Pick three you love and grow ten plants of each.