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 bearing 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.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Sweet Peas are **Hardy Annuals**.
They live for one season but are tough enough to withstand a British winter.
The Strategy: For exhibition-quality blooms on the longest stems, sow in Autumn (Oct/Nov) and overwinter the young plants in a cold frame. For an easier, relaxed garden display, sow in Spring (Jan-March).
Top Tip: Sweet Peas have deep roots. Sow them in "root trainers," deep pots, or even empty toilet roll tubes to give the roots plenty of vertical space to grow.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Sweet Peas are hungry plants that thrive on rich soil and regular picking.
Germination:
Sow indoors in Oct/Nov or Jan-March. You can soak the seeds in tepid water for a few hours before sowing to soften the hard coat (optional). Sow 1cm deep in moist compost. 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 garden compost before planting out. Ensure you have a strong support structure (wigwam, trellis, or netting) ready for them to climb.
Care While Growing:
Tie them in: Use soft twine or sweet pea rings to guide the stems up the support.
Feed: Once flower buds appear, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser (tomato feed).
Pick, Pick, Pick! You must remove seed pods immediately. If the plant sets seed, it assumes its job is done and stops flowering. Harvest flowers every 2 days.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Lathyrus odoratus |
| Common Name | Sweet Pea 'Leamington' |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 1.8m - 2.4m (Climber) |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 20cm - 30cm apart |
| Great for | 🏆 Exhibition Quality ✂️ Long Stems (Cutting) 👃 Strong Scent 🟣 Lavender Themes |
| Seed Count | Approx. 25 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect 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 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
'Leamington' is a gardening legend. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), confirming it is robust, reliable, and an outstanding performer in the UK climate.
- Regular price
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£2.50 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.50
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