Sweet Pea 'Leamington' Seeds

If you picture a classic, ruffled Sweet Pea in your mind, you are probably picturing 'Leamington'. This famous variety is a 'Spencer' type, producing huge, deeply waved flowers in a clear, rich lavender-lilac. The petals are so frilly they look like crushed silk.

While many modern show varieties sacrifice scent for size, 'Leamington' keeps both. It produces exceptionally long, straight stems (often with four blooms per stem), making it the ultimate variety for cutting. A vase of these on a windowsill captures the very essence of a British summer.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Leamington'

We love this plant for its elegance. The lavender colour is pure and consistent—it doesn't fade to grey as it ages. It blends perfectly with almost any other colour in the garden, acting as a cooling bridge between hot pinks and deep purples.

It is a vigorous climber. It will happily scramble up a wigwam or archway, creating a lush, green screen that bursts into a wall of purple blooms from June to August. It is a reliable, award-winning performer that never goes out of fashion.

Understanding the Plant: What is a Hardy Annual?

Sweet Peas are **Hardy Annuals**.

They complete their life cycle in one year but are tough enough to survive cold weather.
The Strategy: For the longest stems (prize-winning quality), sow in Autumn (Oct/Nov) and overwinter in a cold frame. For a fuss-free garden display, sow in Spring (Jan-March).
Top Tip: Sweet Peas have long, searching roots. Sow them in deep containers (like "root trainers" or toilet roll tubes) to give them plenty of legroom right from the start.

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Sweet Peas are hungry plants that need rich soil to fuel their rapid ascent.

🌱 Germination:
Sow indoors in Oct/Nov or Jan-March. Soaking seeds in tepid water overnight can help soften the hard seed coat. Sow 1cm deep in moist compost. Keep cool (approx 15°C)—heat is the enemy of Sweet Pea germination! They usually sprout in 10-21 days.

Where to Sow:
They need **full sun** and deep, fertile soil. Dig a trench and incorporate plenty of well-rotted manure or compost before planting. Install your canes, trellis, or netting before you plant out to avoid damaging the roots later.

Care While Growing:
Tie them in: 'Spencer' types are vigorous climbers but need a little help gripping the support with their tendrils.
Feed: Once buds appear, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser (tomato feed) to ensure long stems.
Pick, Pick, Pick! You must remove seed pods immediately. If the plant sets seed, it stops flowering. Harvest flowers every 2 days.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features.

My Recommended Garden Companions

The classic lavender of 'Leamington' needs soft, airy partners to create a dreamy cottage bouquet:

• ❄️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace): The essential white lace. The flat, delicate heads of Ammi are the perfect textural contrast to the ruffled, frilly Sweet Pea blooms. They look stunning growing together or arranged in a vase.
• 🏰 Larkspur 'Giant Hyacinth Mixed': For pastel harmony. The pinks and blues in this Larkspur mix pick up the lavender tones of the Sweet Pea perfectly, creating a soft, harmonious colour palette that feels very English Country Garden.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow in Autumn for strong plants, or Spring for summer blooms.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)