Sophie Mills
Why sweet peas are a cut-flower favourite
There are few sights and scents more evocative of a British summer than a row of sweet peas clambering up a wigwam. These annual climbers, Lathyrus odoratus, are beloved by florists and gardeners alike because they are generous, fragrant, and wonderfully easy to grow. For anyone wanting home cut flowers, sweet peas are hard to beat. The more you pick, the more they bloom — so a modest patch can keep your kitchen table filled with delicate, scented stems from early summer right through to the first frosts. Unlike many cut flowers that need fussing, sweet peas thrive on being harvested. Every bloom you take prevents a seed pod from forming, which signals the plant to produce more flowers instead of shutting down for the season.
Choosing the best sweet peas for fragrance and cutting
Not all sweet peas are created equal. Some modern varieties have been bred for colour or show-bench perfection at the expense of scent. If fragrance matters to you — and for home cut flowers it really should — seek out old-fashioned or heirloom types. Look for descriptions that mention strong scent or highly fragrant. Good choices include:
- 'Matucana' — deep maroon and violet bicolour with an intense, heady perfume.
- 'Painted Lady' — soft pink and white, one of the oldest and sweetest.
- 'Mrs Collier' — creamy white with a lovely delicate fragrance.
- 'Spencer' mixtures — tall, wavy-petalled blooms in pastel and bicolour shades.
- 'High Scent' — as the name suggests, bred specifically for perfume.
For cutting, you also want long stems. Most Spencer and Grandiflora types give you 30–45cm stems, perfect for vases. Avoid the perennial sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius), which has no scent and can become invasive. Stick to annual varieties for your cutting garden.
Sowing sweet peas: timing and technique
In the UK you can sow sweet peas in autumn or spring. Autumn sowing, from October to November, gives you stronger plants and earlier flowers the following summer. Sow into deep pots, root trainers, or even cardboard tubes filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Plant seeds 1–2cm deep, water well, and place in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Mice love sweet pea seeds, so protect pots with netting or place them on a high shelf.
Spring sowing from February to March under cover is also reliable. Use a temperature of around 15–18°C for germination. Some gardeners soak seeds overnight or nick the hard coat with a file to speed things up, but it is not essential. Once seedlings have two pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushy side shoots. Harden off young plants over a week or two before planting out after the last frost — usually late May in most areas, though autumn-sown plants can go out in April if hardened off properly. Space plants 20–30cm apart in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil.
Supporting and training for straight stems
Sweet peas are climbers and need support from the moment they go outside. A wigwam of bamboo canes, an obelisk, or netting tied to a fence all work well. Aim for a height of 1.8–2.4 metres. Tie in the stems with soft twine as they grow, guiding them upwards. For the longest, straightest stems for cutting, you can remove tendrils and side shoots — this directs the plant's energy into the main flowering stems. However, leaving a few tendrils helps the plant climb naturally, so strike a balance. Water regularly, especially in dry spells, and mulch with garden compost to retain moisture. Once flowering begins, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser, such as a tomato feed. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which encourage leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
Picking regularly for more blooms
This is the most important rule for sweet peas: pick, pick, pick. Harvest when the first flower on a stem is fully open but the others are still in bud. This is when the scent is strongest and the flowers will last longest in the vase. Cut in the early morning, using sharp scissors or snips. Take long stems, leaving at least two sets of leaves on the plant. Never let seed pods develop — if you see a pod forming, remove it immediately. Picking every two to three days encourages a continuous supply of new flowers. Before arranging, condition the stems by standing them in cool water for a few hours. Change the water every other day and add flower food if you have it. A simple jam jar or posy bowl shows off their delicate beauty perfectly. Homegrown sweet peas are one of the purest joys of British summer gardening — and the more you cut, the more they give.
