About Me

I have been growing Sweet Peas since the mid 90's. 

This all started as I had been growing Dahlias for a few years and really enjoyed the Show (competition) season. However, the Dahlia Show season ran from late August through September and that left the rest of the year without any Shows to go to! 

My Dad, a Chrysanthemum and Sweet Pea grower, was doing really well at Showing. Even my Nan used to grow, and Show, Sweet Peas at the local Village Show. I used to go to all the Shows with my parents but never competed against my Dad, so I thought it would be nice to join them at the Summer Shows, but this time adding a little Father/Son rivalry!

I started by growing a few Sweet Peas on my allotment for a year or two before I moved to Strood in Medway, Kent. There I had room to grow around a hundred and twenty plants in my back garden. It was around this time that I became involved with the Kent Federation of Horticultural Association and began to exhibit at the Kent County Show. 

My Dad has taught me almost all I know about gardening over the years and has been my inspiration when it comes to showing flowers. 

My aim was to beat my Dad in at least one class during the season. Sweet Peas was my flower of choice for this. 

Fun and enjoyment is the aim, with winning being the cherry on top of an already wonderful cake! 

Over the years I have increased the amount of plants that I grow, have obtained knowledge, and the tables have turned. It's now my Dad that is pleased as punch when he beats his Son. Whereas I used to get a buzz from beating my Dad, I now find myself getting more of a buzz for my Dad when he beats me! 

I started doing Sweet Pea displays in 2014 at the Kent County Show and won six consecutive Gold Awards including two Premier Awards for best trade display. 

2020 was a difficult year with Covid restrictions across the country so the only Shows that went ahead were done on line, or the one I put up in my front garden!

2021 was a wash out with most of my plants rotting in the ground after very wet weather in early June. I even lost all my seedlings that I had high hopes for.

2022 was a mixed bag. My indoor plants thrived and my practice run for a future Chelsea appearance was a huge success. My seed beds providing a fantastic harvest. However, my cordon grown plants were a disaster, a mixture of late frost, late planting conditions due to wet/cold ground and then two rabbits and wood pigeons nibbling through what they could find. Although many recovered it was too late to be of any use.  So onwards and upwards to 2023!

2023 was my first Chelsea Flower Show, in London, where I was thrilled to be awarded a Silver Gilt Medal.

2024 was a highlight in my life winning a GOLD medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.