Sweet Pea 'Mollie Rilstone' Seeds
'Mollie Rilstone' is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Sweet Peas ever bred. It features creamy-white petals that are delicately edged (picotee) with soft antique rose-pink. As the flower ages, the pink gently bleeds into the cream, giving the whole bloom a flushed, romantic appearance.
This variety is a 'Spencer' type, meaning it produces long, straight stems and large, frilly flowers perfect for cutting. However, unlike many modern Spencers which sacrifice smell for size, 'Mollie Rilstone' retains a powerful, heady fragrance, offering you the best of both worlds.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Sweet Peas are **Hardy Annuals**.
They live for one season but can withstand cold weather.
The Strategy: You can sow them in Spring for summer flowers, but for the biggest, strongest plants with the longest stems, sow them in Autumn (October/November) and overwinter them in a cold frame.
Top Tip: 'Mollie Rilstone' is a vigorous climber. Give it a tall wigwam or trellis (at least 6ft) and tie it in regularly to keep it growing upwards.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Sweet Peas are hungry feeders that need a deep root run.
Germination:
Sow indoors in Oct/Nov or Jan-March. You can soak seeds in tepid water overnight to speed up hydration (optional). Sow 1cm deep in deep pots (root trainers or toilet roll tubes). Keep cool (approx 15°C)—heat inhibits germination! They usually sprout in 10-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They need **full sun** and rich, fertile soil. Dig a trench and fill it with well-rotted manure or compost before planting out. They are climbers, so ensure you have your support structure ready before you plant out.
Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings have 3-4 pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushier growth.
Feed: Once the first flower buds appear, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser (tomato feed).
Pick: You must remove seed pods immediately. If the plant sets seed, it stops flowering. Harvest every 2 days.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Lathyrus odoratus |
| Common Name | Sweet Pea 'Mollie Rilstone' |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 1.8m - 2.4m (Tall Climber) |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 20cm - 30cm apart |
| Great for | 👃 Strong Fragrance 👰 Wedding Flowers ✂️ Cutting Patch 🏆 Exhibiting |
| Seed Count | Approx. 25 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
To create a truly romantic display, pair 'Mollie Rilstone' with other delicate, picotee, or frothy flowers:
- ❄️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The bridal bouquet classic. The tiny white flowers of Gypsophila provide the perfect frothy skirt to hide the base of the Sweet Peas, creating a soft, cloud-like effect in the border.
- 💜 Larkspur 'Fancy Purple Picotee': Create a "Picotee" theme. This Larkspur has the same beautiful edging effect on its petals as 'Mollie Rilstone', but in a contrasting violet-purple. Growing them together creates a very sophisticated, designer look.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in Autumn for early flowers, or Spring for summer blooms.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Seeds | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Sweet Pea seeds are mildly toxic if eaten in large quantities. Unlike vegetable garden peas, these pods are not for eating. Please keep seeds away from small children.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
'Mollie Rilstone' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). It has been trialled and tested by experts and confirmed as one of the best Sweet Peas available for garden performance.
- Regular price
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£2.20 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.20
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