Flowers
Lathyrus 'Wiltshire Ripple'
Sweet Pea
A good sweet pea for cutting due to its unique colour, long stems and lovely scent. Let it climb up arches and obelisks and flower for a heady fragrance in the garden. Grow near climbing vegetables such as runner beans to draw in pollinating insects. Or regularly pick for sweet-smelling posies all summer.
- Plant type
- Hardy Annual
- Position
- Full sun
- Height
- 2m
- Spread
- 20cm
Growing calendar
Sowing & growing
Plants sown undercover Oct-April often perform better. Sow 2 seeds together 1cm deep in pots or root trainers of seed compost and germinate at 20-25°C. Grow on seedlings under glass and plant out in spring or when frosts have finished. Pinch out for bushier plants. Sow directly where they are to flower April-May 2.5cm deep.
Aftercare
For optimum performance, sweet peas should be regularly picked or deadheaded to prevent flowers going to seed. Feed regularly with a potash fertiliser and tie in stems to a suitable support frame.
Gallery
Ref. SES038