Sweet Pea Bishy Barnabee Mix
Sweet Pea Bishy Barnabee Mix
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Sweet Pea 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' Seeds
Our exclusive signature blend, hand-picked for powerful nostalgic fragrance and vintage charm. A tumbling riot of frilled lavender, rich violet, and creamy white blooms that scramble up wigwams to provide endless armfuls of scent for the home.
Our exclusive 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' is a hand-picked selection of our very favourite Sweet Peas. We haven't just gone for size; we have selected varieties specifically for their powerful, nostalgic fragrance and their old-fashioned charm. Expect a tumbling riot of colour: soft lavenders, rich violets, creamy whites, and vintage pinks.
Sweet Peas are the soul of the cottage garden. Whether scrambling up a rustic hazel wigwam or trailing elegantly from a tall container, they provide armfuls of flowers for the house. This mix combines the elegance of the long-stemmed 'Spencer' types with the intense perfume of the traditional 'Grandiflora' types, giving you the best of both worlds.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' consists of Hardy Annuals (H3). These plants complete their lifecycle in one year but are remarkably resilient to UK frosts, allowing for autumn sowing to produce earlier, stronger plants.
The Best of Both Worlds: This curated mix features 'Spencer' varieties, loved for their large, frilled blooms and long stems, and heritage 'Grandiflora' types, which are famous for having the most intense, room-filling perfume.
Climbing Habit: As vigorous climbers reaching up to 2m, they use delicate tendrils to pull themselves upward. They are perfect for providing vertical height and sensory interest to any sunny border or cutting patch.
🌱 Growing Guide
Sweet Peas are "hungry and thirsty" plants that reward deep soil preparation and regular attention.
How to Sow:
For the earliest blooms, sow indoors from October to November and overwinter in a cold frame. Alternatively, sow from January to March. Soak seeds in tepid water for 2-4 hours before sowing 1cm deep in deep pots (root trainers) to accommodate their long taproots. Germination takes 10-21 days at roughly 15°C.
Where to Plant:
Plant out in April or May in a position with full sun and fertile soil. They require a support structure like a trellis, wigwam, or netting to climb immediately. Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost before planting.
Ongoing Care:
The golden rule is "Pick, Pick, Pick!" Regularly harvesting the flowers prevents seed pods from forming; once the plant sets seed, it will stop flowering. Feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser (like tomato feed) once the first buds appear to sustain the display into autumn.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Lathyrus odoratus 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' |
| Common Name | Sweet Pea |
| Plant Type | Hardy Annual |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | 1.8m - 2.0m (Climber) |
| Spread | 30cm |
| Spacing | Plant 20-30cm apart |
| Flowering Period | June to September |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 25 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
Sweet Peas can sometimes look bare at the base; hide their "scruffy legs" with these perfect partners:
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The perfect screen. Planting bushy white Cosmos in front of your Sweet Pea wigwam provides a fresh, clean backdrop and feathery foliage to hide lower stems.
- ❄️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The Florist's Dream. This classic combination provides a ready-made bouquet right in the border. The airy white mist of Gypsophila looks stunning against the colourful, scented climbers.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in autumn or early spring for a vertical display of scented colour.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Plant Out | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||||||
| Flowering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Unlike garden peas, Sweet Pea seeds are mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities. They are grown for their fragrance and beauty, not for eating. Please keep seeds away from small children and do not mistake pods for edible crops.
🏆 Hand-Picked Excellence
Our 'Bishy Barnabee Mix' is specifically curated to maintain the powerful perfume that is often lost in modern hybrids. It is a vital nectar source for bees throughout the peak of the English summer.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Hardy Annuals →
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