Sweet peas-do they twine to the left or right?

I don't know about sweet peas, but morning glories are counter-clockwise, if that helps.

does it matter ?

Yes because I don't want to tie them and some of them won't twine so I thought maybe I was trying to force them the wrong way....

Got news for you, Cestina - sweet peas aren't twiners, which is why yours aren't twining. They have modified leaves called petioles which cling to narrow supports, such as that provided by pea sticks or mesh (similar to clematis).

thank you cestina

Thanks Bamboo - so I just aim the petioles at the twigs then? Maybe the sticks are a bit too thick for them.....I might wind some string round though wouldn't look as nice as the pyramids alone.

Sticks won't be too big I shouldn't imagine.....as long as they have something to cling to.......they will entwine around themselves so you need to make sure there is something else for them........otherwise they get very heavy, lean and the stem will bend and break. If you haven't grown sweet peas before, cut the flowers regularly to encourage more and don't let them develop seed pods as the strength will go into them as opposed to more flowers.
I have always grown sweet peas but I am very disappointed with mine this year.....unsure why they are not doing as well...maybe the different soil I am gardening in........they are well worth the wait for the aroma they give out

Thanks Annieuk. I have grown them before (see photos from last year) but have always wound string round the bamboo poles and this year I have twiggy pyramids that I bought, probably willow, because I got fed up with the string winding :-/

I adore them and am also trying the everlasting ones this year though I sowed them a bit late and haven't yet transplanted them out of their 3ins pots which I must do this weekend since the ground is soft from torrential rain we have had in the Czech Republic overnight.

As a guide, pea sticks and string are fine, they'll grip that, but not too keen on thick bamboo canes - thin ones they'll grab, thick ones are too much for them.