SWEET peas are spectacular annual climbing plants with their pretty, highly-fragrant flowers.

Now's the time to get the seed going for next year - and don't be put off by anyone who says they can't get the seed to germinate.

Simply ‘pre chit’ the seeds on layers of damp kitchen paper, so you can start the germination process before you actually sow the seeds in pots of compost.

Once the plants reach about three inches high, pinch out the growing tips to make the side shoots grow.

Sweet peas are much tougher than you realise, so if you do this now, and grow the plants under protection in a cold frame or cloche over winter, you get strong, bushy, multi-stemmed plants.

This will give you an earlier start next year, so you extend the season, getting more flowers for a longer period next summer.