Cottage Garden Seeds have been growing heirloom Sweet Peas for over 5 years.
What started as a contract growing for Australian Sweet Pea Specialists, and after that business was sold we decided to go it alone.
We now hold the largest collection of sweet peas in Tasmania, and pride ourselves of making rare varieties available to the rest of Australia, and other parts of the world.
We apologise now for creating this healthy addiction for you!
History of Sweet Peas.
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are native to the eastern Mediterranean—principally Sicily, Calabria and the Aegean islands—they were brought to western Europe in the late 17th century by Franciscan monk and botanist Francesco Cupani
In 1793 the English gardener Henry Eckford began selective breeding in Scotland, producing larger flowers and a wider range of colours. His work, continued by other Victorian breeders, transformed the species from modest garden climber into the showy, fragrant cultivars prized today.
During the 20th century, breeders refined traits such as fragrance, stem length and disease resistance. Heirloom and open-pollinated varieties preserved the heritage of many classical colours and scents, while modern hybrids offer extended vase life and novel hues.
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) come in several distinct types, each with its own flower form, plant habit and growing characteristics.
Grandiflora (Old-fashioned)
Description: The classic heirloom sweet pea form with large, flat, ruffled blooms and a delicate fragrance. Often called "old-fashioned" or "classical" sweet peas.
Use: Cut flowers, cottage garden beds.
Spencer
Description: Developed in the late 19th century in England; Spencers have larger, more deeply ruffled blooms and longer stems than the traditional grandiflora. They often show more substance and range of colours.
Use: Premium cut flowers, floristry and show gardens.
Gawler’s are a classic heirloom sweet pea prized for its strong fragrance and robust climbing habit. Originating in Australia, this variety produces abundant, large blooms in a pleasing palette of soft pinks and creams, often with a slightly darker centre.
Flower colour: soft pinks and creams, sometimes with a darker eye
Fragrance: intense, traditional sweet pea scent
Habit: tall, twining climber; good overall vigour
Flower size: medium to large sprays of multiple blossoms per stem
Type: open-pollinated, heirloom
Growing conditions for sweet peas.
Climate: Performs well in temperate to cool seasons; appreciates cool nights for best flowering. In warm or hot climates, plant in autumn or early spring for cooler growth periods.
Soil: Prefers fertile, free-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Neutral to slightly alkaline pH favoured.
Light: Full sun to part shade. In hot regions provide afternoon shade to prolong flowering.
Water: Keep evenly moist during growth and flowering; reduce water slightly after flowering subsides.
Support: Provide sturdy support such as netting, trellis or bamboo canes; tie young shoots as needed.
Sowing and care
Depth & spacing: Sow direct 1–2 cm deep, we do 2 seeds per hole
Germination: 7–18 days, depending on temperature.
Feeding: Apply a low-nitrogen, higher-phosphorus feed at planting and again during early flowering to encourage blooms rather than excessive foliage.
Deadheading: Regularly remove spent blooms to extend flowering.
