Sweet Pea Seeds 'Flower Arranger's Blend'

When to Sow Sweet Peas

Sweet peas can be sown under cover in October–November or January–April. Autumn sowing gives plants time to establish strong roots over winter and can encourage earlier flowering. Spring sowing is a good alternative if you don't have somewhere suitable to overwinter young plants.

Seeds can also be sown directly outdoors in April or May, once the soil has warmed and conditions are suitable.

Preparing Your Seeds

Sweet pea seeds can be sown without any special preparation. If you prefer, they can be pre-germinated on damp kitchen roll and planted carefully as soon as the first small root appears. Handle sprouted seeds gently to avoid damaging the roots.

Sowing Under Cover

Fill deep seed trays, root trainers or individual pots with peat-free seed compost and firm lightly. Sow one seed per cell, approximately 1–2cm deep, cover with compost and water gently.

Keep at around 15–18°C while the seeds germinate. A cool indoor room or suitable propagating area is ideal. Germination usually takes 7–14 days. Avoid keeping the compost excessively wet.

Growing On & Pinching Out

Once seedlings appear, move them somewhere bright and cool to encourage sturdy growth. Autumn-sown plants can be overwintered in a cold greenhouse or cold frame, protected from severe frost and waterlogging.

For bushier plants, pinch out the growing tip of spring-sown seedlings once they have developed two pairs of true leaves, usually at around 7–10cm tall. This encourages strong side shoots. Autumn-sown plants often branch naturally.

Planting Outdoors

Before planting out, gradually acclimatise seedlings raised under cover to outdoor conditions. Choose a sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, improved with well-rotted garden compost where necessary.

Plant out in spring when the soil is workable and weather conditions are suitable, generally from March or April depending on your location. Space plants approximately 20–25cm apart, taking care not to disturb the roots. Firm gently and water well after planting.

Direct Sowing Outdoors

Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed and sow seeds approximately 2–2.5cm deep, initially spacing them 5–7cm apart. Keep the soil moist until seedlings establish, then thin to around 20–25cm apart to allow room for healthy growth.

Top Tip

Sweet peas develop long roots early in their growth. Using deep cells or root trainers gives the roots room to grow and helps minimise disturbance when planting out.

Watering & Feeding

Keep sweet peas well watered during dry weather, especially as flower buds develop. Water thoroughly at the base of the plants rather than giving frequent light sprinkles. Container-grown sweet peas may need more frequent watering during warm spells.

Where soil has been well prepared, additional feeding may be limited. Once flowering begins, a liquid feed suitable for flowering plants can be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth rather than flowers.

Supporting & Training

Climbing sweet peas need a sturdy support such as canes, pea netting, trellis or an obelisk. Position supports early and guide young shoots towards them as they grow. Their tendrils will naturally grip suitable netting or twiggy supports, although some stems may need tying in loosely.

How to Keep Sweet Peas Flowering

Pick flowers regularly and remove faded blooms before seedpods develop. Once sweet peas begin producing seeds, they naturally put less energy into making new flowers. Regular picking and deadheading are among the most effective ways to extend the flowering season.

Cutting Sweet Peas for Vases

For the best vase life, pick stems in the cool of the morning or evening when the lower flowers are open and the upper buds are beginning to show colour. Use clean scissors or secateurs and place the stems straight into fresh water.

Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline, keep arrangements away from direct heat and change the water regularly.

Pests & Problems

Slugs and snails can damage young plants, while aphids may gather around tender shoots and flower buds. Check plants regularly and deal with problems early.

Powdery mildew can develop when plants become stressed, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Maintain consistent soil moisture, avoid overcrowding and ensure good air circulation. Flowering may also slow during prolonged periods of very hot weather.

Top Tip

During the main flowering season, check plants every day or two. A regular supply of freshly picked flowers is one of the best rewards for keeping on top of deadheading.

Cutting Gardens

'Flower Arranger's Blend' is an excellent choice for a dedicated cutting garden. Grow the climbing plants along a framework of canes or netting where the flowering stems are easy to reach. Their long stems and fragrant blooms make them particularly useful for home-grown bouquets.

Cottage Gardens & Borders

Bring traditional cottage garden character to sunny borders by growing sweet peas up an obelisk or amongst other summer flowers. Their climbing habit adds height without taking up too much ground space.

Fences, Trellis & Arches

Use climbing sweet peas to add seasonal colour and fragrance to a sunny fence, trellis or garden arch. They can also create a temporary flowering screen during summer, provided there is a suitable structure for their tendrils to grip.

Growing Sweet Peas in Pots

Climbing sweet peas can be grown in large, deep patio containers with good drainage. Choose a container with enough space for healthy root development and a sturdy climbing support. Position it somewhere sunny and sheltered from strong winds.

For small pots, window boxes or hanging baskets, compact dwarf or trailing sweet peas are generally a better choice.

Growing for Fragrance

Position fragrant sweet peas near a patio, garden bench, doorway or frequently used pathway where their scent can be enjoyed. A sheltered position also helps protect their flowering stems from strong winds.

Choosing Sweet Peas for Cutting

If you enjoy bringing flowers indoors, look for sweet peas with long stems, attractive flower forms and good fragrance. 'Flower Arranger's Blend' is particularly suited to cutting, combining large, ruffled flowers with a colourful mix of shades for informal summer arrangements.

Spencer Sweet Peas

Spencer sweet peas are known for their large, often heavily waved or ruffled blooms. Many produce long flowering stems, making them popular for cutting and exhibition growing. Fragrance varies between individual varieties, so check descriptions if scent is particularly important.

Grandiflora & Old-Fashioned Sweet Peas

Traditional Grandiflora sweet peas are often prized for their strong fragrance and classic flower shapes. Their blooms are generally smaller and less ruffled than modern Spencer varieties, making them popular with gardeners who enjoy traditional cottage garden flowers.

Dwarf & Trailing Sweet Peas

Compact sweet peas are ideal for smaller spaces, patio pots and hanging baskets. Many dwarf and trailing varieties need little or no support, unlike taller climbing types that are better suited to trellis, obelisks and cutting gardens.

Choosing for Fragrance

Sweet pea fragrance varies considerably between varieties. Some have a rich, traditional perfume, while others are more lightly scented. Look for varieties specifically described as strongly fragrant if scent is one of your main reasons for growing them.

Choosing for Colour

Sweet peas are available in shades of white, cream, pink, red, lavender, mauve and purple, including striped and picotee forms. Mixed selections offer a range of colours from one packet, while single-colour varieties are useful for creating coordinated borders or flower arrangements.

Which Sweet Peas Should You Choose?

Choose climbing varieties for height and cutting gardens, compact varieties for pots and baskets, traditional Grandiflora types for classic flowers and fragrance, or long-stemmed selections for cutting and arranging. Consider the space you have available, the colours you enjoy and whether fragrance or flower size matters most.

What to Expect When They Arrive

Your Sweet Pea 'Flower Arranger's Blend' is supplied as a packet of 50 seeds. The seeds are dry and dormant, ready for sowing at the appropriate time of year.

Getting Ready to Sow

Before sowing, make sure you have suitable seed compost, clean pots or seed trays and a bright, protected space for raising young plants. Check the recommended sowing period and follow the instructions in our How to Grow section.

If You Can't Sow Straight Away

Keep seeds in their original packet somewhere cool, dry and protected from moisture until you're ready to sow. Avoid storing packets in direct sunlight or damp conditions, as this can affect seed quality.

Important to Know

Ornamental sweet peas are grown for their flowers, not for eating. Sweet pea seeds and pods are poisonous if eaten and should never be confused with edible garden peas. Keep seeds and pods away from children and pets.