How to Grow
Sweet Pea 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' from Seed
The signature fragrant sweet pea blend — Hardy Annual H3; curated selection spanning the full sweet pea colour palette; selected with fragrance as the primary criterion; sow Oct–Nov (best) in root trainers in a cold frame, or Jan–Mar at 15°C; 1cm deep; soak seeds first; pinch at 4 pairs of leaves; pick every 2–3 days without fail; rich deep soil; 1.8m+ support; TOXICITY: all parts mildly toxic; do not eat
The Bishy Barnabee Mix is the sweet pea starting point — a curated signature blend spanning the full cottage garden sweet pea palette, selected specifically with fragrance as the primary criterion. Where some commercial sweet pea mixtures include modern varieties that have traded scent for larger or more unusual blooms, the Bishy Barnabee Mix assembles varieties chosen for the quality that makes sweet peas irreplaceable: the old-fashioned, room-filling, garden-saturating fragrance that is unlike any other flower's perfume.
A single packet of the Bishy Barnabee Mix sown up a wigwam of bamboo canes in a well-prepared cottage garden border provides the defining sweet pea experience: armfuls of mixed fragrant flowers in the full palette of sweet pea colours, picked every few days from May through September, filling the house with fragrance and providing the vertical, climbing element that gives a cottage garden border its height and movement. No other annual climbing plant provides this specific combination of fragrance, colour range, cutting garden value, and the particular pleasure of picking that sweet peas alone deliver.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy Annual H3 — the Bishy Barnabees signature sweet pea blend; the cottage garden starting point
The mix
A curated selection of fragrant varieties spanning the full sweet pea colour palette
Fragrance
Selected with fragrance as a priority — the full garden-filling sweet pea perfume
TOXICITY
All parts mildly toxic — do not eat; keep away from children and pets
Golden rule
Pick every 2–3 days; never allow seed pods to form or flowering stops
Difficulty
2 out of 5 — rewarding with the right preparation; deep pots, rich soil, regular picking
Understanding the Bishy Barnabee Mix
Toxicity Warning — All Parts Mildly Toxic
Sweet pea seeds and all parts of the plant are mildly toxic if ingested. They must not be eaten and should not be mistaken for edible garden peas, which they resemble closely in seed form. Keep seeds and plants away from children and pets at all stages.
Sowing — Deep Pots or Root Trainers; Autumn or Spring
Sweet peas have a long taproot and need depth from the start — sow in root trainers or deep pots (minimum 10cm), not shallow cell trays. Sow at 1cm depth. For autumn sowing (October–November): overwinter in a cold frame; the plants develop deep root systems through winter and flower from May, producing the strongest plants and longest stems. For spring sowing (January–March): keep at around 15°C — excessive heat inhibits germination. Germination 10–21 days.
Soaking, Nicking, Pinching, and the Golden Rule
Soak seeds in tepid water for a few hours before sowing to aid germination. Nick or chip with a nail file any seeds that have not swollen after soaking — these have hard seed coats that prevent water uptake. When plants reach approximately 10cm (4 pairs of leaves), pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushy multi-stemmed growth. The Golden Rule of sweet peas: pick every 2–3 days and never allow seed pods to form. Once a plant sets seed it stops producing flowers. Regular picking is both the reward and the secret to a long season.
Rich Soil, Strong Support, and Regular Feeding
Sweet peas are hungry, thirsty plants. Prepare the planting position well in advance by digging in generous quantities of well-rotted manure or compost. Erect support structures (wigwam of bamboo canes, trellis, or netting) before or at planting — never after the plants have started climbing. Once the first buds appear, feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser (tomato feed). Water at the base rather than overhead; mulch around the base to keep roots cool in summer. Sweet peas slow and stop when roots overheat.
Sowing & Growing On
Sow Oct–Nov (best) or Jan–Mar — Root Trainers or Deep Pots — 1cm Deep — Soak First — Keep Cool (15°C) — Plant Mar–May — Wigwam or Trellis
Sow in root trainers or deep pots at 1cm depth. Soak seeds for a few hours first. Best: October–November in a cold frame for May flowers. Spring: January–March at 15°C. Plant out March–May. Erect support before planting. Pinch at 4 pairs of leaves. Pick every 2–3 days without fail.
-
Soak seeds in tepid water for a few hours before sowing. Seeds that do not swell should be gently nicked with a nail file or sharp knife to allow water to penetrate the seed coat. Sow at 1cm depth in root trainers or deep pots filled with good seed compost. For autumn sowing, overwinter in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse — not a warm indoor windowsill.
-
Grow on in cool, bright conditions — approximately 15°C for spring sowings. Excessive warmth inhibits germination and produces weak, drawn seedlings. Once established, sweet pea seedlings are hardy enough to tolerate cold but not frost. Autumn-sown plants develop through winter in a cold frame and emerge in spring as significantly more robust specimens than spring sowings.
-
Prepare the planting position generously before planting out. Dig a trench or individual planting holes and fill with well-rotted manure or compost. Sweet peas are deep-rooting and hungry plants — the better the soil preparation, the more generous the season of flowering. Erect support structures before or at planting. Plant out March–April (autumn sown) or April–May (spring sown).
-
Pinch out at 4 pairs of leaves (approximately 10cm) and then pick, pick, pick. Pinching out converts one stem into multiple branching shoots, each of which produces flowers. Once flowering begins, pick every 2–3 days and remove every seed pod as soon as spotted. The plant's biological imperative is seed production — once it achieves this, flowering ceases. Preventing seed set is the single most important action for maintaining a long flowering season.
Growing On & Care
The Mix — The Full Palette
The Bishy Barnabee Mix has been curated as a signature blend spanning the full sweet pea colour palette — from palest blush through the warm mid-pinks, deep rose-pinks, lavender-lilac, and beyond. Fragrance has been a primary selection criterion: as noted in the Bishy growing guide, "our sweet pea seeds are selected with fragrance very much in mind." A mixed planting of the Bishy Barnabee Mix provides the classic cottage garden sweet pea experience — armfuls of mixed fragrant colour from a single packet.
Watering — Keep Roots Cool
Sweet peas slow and stop when their roots overheat in summer. Water consistently at the base of the plant — not overhead — using a deep, thorough soaking rather than frequent shallow watering. Mulch the base of the plants thickly with garden compost or bark mulch as soon as they are established, to insulate the root zone from summer heat. In a hot July, the combination of deep watering and thick mulch is the difference between a plant that continues producing and one that stalls.
Support — Erect Early
Sweet peas are natural climbers that use tendrils to attach themselves to any available support. Erect the support structure before or at the time of planting — bamboo wigwams (at least 1.8m tall), a trellis, or horizontal netting between canes. Once the plants begin climbing, they will attach themselves and need only occasional guidance of wayward stems. Attempting to erect support after established plants have begun to sprawl causes stem damage and sets the plants back significantly.
Succession — For Extended Season
To extend the sweet pea season beyond a single flush, grow several plants at different stages: make an autumn sowing (October–November) for flowers from May, and a spring sowing (January–February) for flowers from June–July. Between the two batches, the sweet pea season can span May through September in a good year, providing cutting material across three to four months from two sequential sowings.
Pollinators
Sweet peas are outstanding pollinator plants — the open, accessible flowers attract bumblebees and long-tongued bees throughout the flowering season, and the intense fragrance is specifically evolved to attract pollinators from considerable distances. A well-established wigwam of sweet peas buzzes with bee activity on warm summer mornings, providing one of the most pleasurable garden soundscapes available from a climbing annual.
Cutting and Conditioning
For the best vase life, cut sweet peas in the early morning when the stems are fully hydrated. Cut when two or three flowers are open on each stem and a further two or three buds remain closed. Re-cut stems at an angle under water immediately before placing in a clean vase. Sweet pea vase life is typically 4–6 days — shorter than many cut flowers, but the fragrance that fills the room during those days is among the most beautiful that any garden plant provides.
Sowing & Season Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn sow (Oct–Nov; root trainers; cold frame) |
|
|
||||||||||
| Spring sow (Jan–Mar; cool 15°C; deep pots) |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Plant out (Mar–May depending on sow date) |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Pick every 2–3 days (never allow seed pods) |
|
|
|
|
|
Common Problems & Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Flowering stopping abruptly in midsummer | Seed pods allowed to form | Check the entire plant immediately for developing seed pods and remove every one. Once seed pods are stripped, the plant resumes flowering within a week. Prevention is better — pick every 2–3 days without exception. |
| Poor germination | Seeds not soaked; compost too warm; seeds too old | Soak seeds for several hours before sowing. Nick any that do not swell. Maintain 15°C for spring sowings — excessive heat inhibits germination. Use fresh seed each season for best germination rates. |
| Thin, weak stems; poor flower size | Insufficient nutrition; plants rootbound before planting | Feed fortnightly with high-potash fertiliser from first buds. Ensure generous soil preparation with well-rotted manure or compost. Plant out before rootbound conditions develop in pots. |
| Mildew on leaves in late summer | Normal; prevent by adequate spacing and base watering | Powdery mildew appears naturally in late summer on sweet peas. Water at the base only; ensure good air circulation between plants; avoid overhead watering. Mildew does not significantly affect flowering if plants are well-established. |
Plant Specifications
Pick every two to three days and never stop — the cottage garden armful of fragrant sweet peas in the full palette from a single packet
Sow in root trainers or deep pots at 1cm depth. Soak seeds first. Best: October–November in a cold frame for May flowers. Spring: January–March at 15°C. Plant out March–May in rich deep soil with 1.8m+ support erected before planting. Pinch at 4 pairs of leaves. Pick every 2–3 days and remove all seed pods — this is the single most important action for maintaining a long fragrant season.
Shop Sweet Pea Bishy Barnabee Mix Seeds →