Old Spice, Sweet Pea Seeds

Old Spice Sweet Pea Seed

Heat-tolerant heirloom fragrance outlasts many modern sweet peas
Smaller flowers carry exceptionally rich old-fashioned scent
Climbing vines benefit from trellises or other support
Eckford-derived colors flourish where summers arrive quickly

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Lathyrus odoratus

Days to maturity

90 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

50 Seeds

About Old Spice, Sweet Pea Seed, Sweet Pea Seed

The Old Spice Sweet Pea is a beautiful old climbing variety that have heat resistant and highly scented flowers that smell even better than they look! The flowers are derived from the old Eckford series and are somewhat smaller than modern strains. The Old Spice is a good variety where summer heat will not usually allow sweet peas to grow well.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

7–21 days

Germination Type

N - Nick Seed Coat

In-row plant spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

84 inches

Growth Habits

Climbing, Vining

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

281

Color

Multicolor

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

Choose a cool, full-sun site with rich, well-drained soil and afternoon shade where summers are hot. Incorporate compost and install a trellis before sowing. Soak seed briefly or nick hard seed coats if desired, but discard damaged seed and avoid prolonged soaking.

Planting

Direct sow sweet peas in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or sow in fall where winters are mild. In very cold areas, start them indoors 4–6 weeks early in deep cells that protect the roots. Keep the medium evenly moist and cool. Transplant carefully, and direct climbing shoots onto their support as growth begins.

Watering

Once established, sweet pea prefers deep, infrequent watering. Let the surface dry between irrigations, supply extra moisture during extended heat, and avoid keeping the crown continuously wet.

Fertilizer

Fertilize sweet pea according to soil-test results, usually without added nitrogen. Excess nitrogen reduces nodulation and favors excessive foliage, while phosphorus or potassium may be needed on deficient soils.

Harvesting

Sweet Pea flowers are ready when stems are firm and blooms show mature color without fading. Cut during cool, dry conditions; for seed, leave selected heads until brown and dry.

Tips

Train sweet peas onto netting while stems are young and pick flowers frequently to extend bloom. Seeds and pods are toxic if eaten; clearly distinguish ornamental sweet peas from edible garden peas.

Pests & Diseases

Ascochyta blight, powdery mildew, downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, and viruses affect sweet peas. Use pathogen-free seed, rotate legumes, and keep vines dry. Remove plants with stem lesions, persistent wilt, or mosaic. Never save seed from spotted pods or allow diseased residue to remain.

Sweet Pea may attract sap-feeding aphids and leafhoppers, chewing beetles, weevils, and cutworms. Scout new growth and pods, use physical removal, and preserve lady beetles and other beneficial insects.