Lathyrus odoratus 'White Frills'
spencer sweet pea seed White Frills
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: hardy annual
Frilly-edged white petals form good-sized, well-scented flowers, which appear in small clusters throughout the summer on long, slender stems. A firm favourite with the exhibitors, 'White Frills' consistantly wins awards at the shows, but also makes a fine climber for the garden, where it will fill the surrounding air with its sweet perfume. Plant more than you need as you will want some for the vase too.
After the risk of frost has passed, and before spring planting our 9cm sweet peas, incorporate lots of well-rotted organic matter in the planting area and backfill. Apply a balanced liquid plant food every two weeks while in growth and deadhead regularly to encourage more flowers. Maintain watering during dry spells.
From October to late February, sow seeds into deep pots or root trainers filled with a good-quality seed compost and place them in a cold frame. Pinch out the tips as the plants grow to encourage them to become bushier and produce more flowers, and harden off before planting out in early April. Direct sowing can also be made in October or March-April. It is important to remove the faded flowers before they set seed, so picking them to fill a vase inside will only encourage more to form.
- Humans/Pets: Pods and seeds are not edible