Sweet Pea Seeds 'Unwins Signature Blend'

When to Sow Sweet Peas

Sow 'Unwins Signature Blend' under cover in September–October or January–February. Autumn sowing allows plants to establish roots before winter and can give an earlier start to flowering. Spring sowing is a good alternative if you don't have a suitable protected space for overwintering young plants.

Seeds can also be sown directly outdoors in spring once the soil begins to warm.

Preparing Your Seeds

Sweet pea seeds can be sown without special preparation. Alternatively, Unwins recommends placing them on moist kitchen roll in a covered container in a warm room, then sowing carefully as soon as they begin to swell or sprout. Avoid damaging any emerging roots.

Sowing Under Cover

Fill root trainers, deep seed trays or individual 8cm pots with peat-free seed compost. Sow one seed per cell, approximately 1–2cm deep, cover with compost and water gently.

Keep at around 15°C until germination, in a cool indoor room or suitable propagating area. Seeds usually germinate within 1–2 weeks. Avoid overwatering while waiting for seedlings to emerge.

Growing On & Pinching Out

Once seedlings appear, move them somewhere bright and cool to encourage sturdy growth. Overwinter autumn-sown plants in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse, protecting them from severe frost and excess winter wet.

Pinch out the growing tip when seedlings reach approximately 7–10cm tall to encourage bushier growth and additional flowering shoots. Autumn-sown plants may already branch naturally.

Planting Outdoors

Gradually acclimatise plants raised under cover to outdoor conditions before planting. Choose a sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, improved with well-rotted garden compost where necessary.

Plant out from late March onwards when weather conditions are suitable. Space plants approximately 20cm apart, taking care not to disturb their roots. Firm gently and water thoroughly after planting.

Direct Sowing Outdoors

Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed enriched with garden compost. Sow seeds approximately 2cm deep and initially around 7cm apart in pre-watered soil. Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge, then thin to approximately 20cm apart.

Top Tip

Sweet peas develop long roots early in their growth. Deep cells or root trainers help roots develop freely and minimise disturbance when planting outdoors.

Watering & Feeding

Keep sweet peas well watered during dry spells, particularly when flower buds are developing. Water thoroughly at the base of the plants and avoid allowing the soil to dry out for prolonged periods. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering.

Feed regularly during active growth and flowering with a suitable liquid plant feed, following the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Supporting & Training

'Unwins Signature Blend' is a climbing sweet pea mix reaching approximately 1.8m tall. Provide a sturdy framework of canes, netting, trellis or an obelisk. Guide young shoots towards the support and tie them in loosely where necessary as they grow.

How to Keep Sweet Peas Flowering

Pick flowers frequently and remove faded blooms before seedpods develop. Once sweet peas begin setting seed, they naturally put less energy into producing new flowers. Regular picking and deadheading help maintain a good display.

Cutting Sweet Peas for Vases

Pick flowering stems in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. Choose stems with the lower flowers open and the upper buds beginning to show colour. Use clean scissors or secateurs and place stems straight into fresh water.

Remove foliage below the waterline and keep arrangements away from direct heat. Change the water regularly to help the flowers last longer.

Pests & Problems

Protect young plants from slugs and snails, and check tender shoots and buds for aphids. Deal with problems early to prevent damage to developing growth.

Powdery mildew can appear during hot, dry conditions, particularly when plants are stressed. Maintain consistent soil moisture, avoid overcrowding and ensure good air circulation.

Top Tip

During peak flowering, check plants every day or two. Regular harvesting gives you more freshly cut flowers to enjoy indoors and helps prevent unwanted seedpods from forming.

Cutting Gardens

'Unwins Signature Blend' is particularly suited to cutting gardens, thanks to its long flowering stems, rich mix of colours and beautiful fragrance. Grow plants along an accessible framework of canes or netting so flowers are easy to pick for summer bouquets.

Cottage Gardens & Borders

Bring colour and fragrance to traditional cottage garden planting with this mix of pink, red and purple sweet peas. Grow them up an obelisk amongst lower-growing summer flowers to add height and a colourful focal point.

Fences, Trellis & Obelisks

Climbing sweet peas are ideal for adding seasonal colour to sunny fences, trellis and garden structures. Their tendrils grip suitable supports, creating a flowering display without needing a permanent climbing plant.

Growing Sweet Peas in Pots

'Unwins Signature Blend' can be grown in large, deep patio pots with good drainage and a sturdy climbing support. Choose a sunny, sheltered position with enough space for the roots and climbing stems to develop.

For hanging baskets, window boxes and small containers, compact or trailing sweet pea varieties are generally more suitable.

Growing for Fragrance

Make the most of this blend's 4/5 fragrance rating by positioning plants near a garden path, doorway, patio or seating area. Their scented flowers are also a lovely addition to freshly picked arrangements for the home.

Choosing Sweet Peas for Cutting

If you enjoy growing flowers for the home, look for sweet peas with long stems, attractive blooms and good flower production. 'Unwins Signature Blend' combines long cutting stems with large, wavy flowers in a colourful mix of pinks, reds and purples.

Spencer Sweet Peas

Spencer sweet peas are known for their large, often heavily waved or ruffled blooms. Many produce long stems, making them popular for cutting and exhibition growing. Fragrance varies between varieties, so check individual descriptions if scent is particularly important.

Grandiflora & Old-Fashioned Sweet Peas

Traditional Grandiflora sweet peas are often valued for their strong fragrance and classic flower shapes. Their blooms are generally smaller and less ruffled than modern Spencer types, making them a popular choice for traditional cottage gardens.

Dwarf & Trailing Sweet Peas

Compact and trailing sweet peas are useful for patio pots, window boxes and hanging baskets. Many need little or no support, unlike taller climbing varieties that are better suited to trellis, obelisks and cutting gardens.

Choosing for Fragrance

Sweet pea fragrance varies between varieties. Some have a rich, traditional perfume, while others are more lightly scented. If fragrance is a priority, look for varieties with a strong scent rating, such as 'Unwins Signature Blend', which Unwins rates 4/5.

Choosing for Colour

Sweet peas come in a wide range of colours, from soft pastels to deeper reds, pinks and purples. Mixed selections are useful for creating colourful displays from one packet, while single-colour varieties are ideal for coordinated planting schemes and arrangements.

Which Sweet Peas Should You Choose?

Choose climbing varieties for height and cutting gardens, dwarf types for smaller containers, traditional varieties for classic flowers and fragrance, or long-stemmed selections if your main aim is to grow flowers for cutting.

What to Expect When They Arrive

Your Sweet Pea 'Unwins Signature Blend' is supplied as a packet containing 30 seeds, ready for sowing at the appropriate time of year.

Getting Ready to Sow

Have clean pots or deep seed trays, good-quality peat-free seed compost and a suitable protected space ready before sowing. Follow the instructions in our How to Grow section for sowing and raising your seedlings.

If You Can't Sow Straight Away

Keep seeds in their original packet somewhere cool, dry and protected from moisture until you're ready to sow. Avoid leaving packets in direct sunlight, damp conditions or high temperatures.

Important to Know

Ornamental sweet peas are grown for their flowers and fragrance, not for eating. Sweet pea seeds and pods are poisonous if eaten and must not be confused with edible garden peas. Keep seeds and pods away from children and pets.