Understanding Sweet Pea Types for Cut Flowers
Before diving into specific varieties, it's helpful to understand the different groups of sweet peas. For cutting, the main distinction is between the Spencer and Grandiflora types, though modern breeding has created hybrids that share the best characteristics of both.
- Spencer Types: These are the darlings of the floristry world, known for their large, ruffled blooms and, crucially, long stems. While traditionally less fragrant than older types, modern Spencers have improved scent profiles. They are robust, productive, and come in a vast array of colors.
- Grandiflora Types: The older, heirloom sweet peas fall into this category. They are prized for their powerful fragrance but typically have smaller flowers and shorter stems than Spencers. For a cottage garden bouquet in a small vase, their strong scent makes them an excellent choice.
- Modern Grandiflora: A newer class of sweet peas, these hybrids combine the best of both worlds: the robust fragrance of Grandifloras with the large, showy flowers and long stems of Spencer types.
Top Sweet Pea Varieties Recommended for Cutting
Many individual varieties are acclaimed for their qualities as cut flowers. Here are some of the most reliable and sought-after options:
- 'Matucana': An heirloom variety, this is considered one of the best for fragrance. Its strong, sweet scent and distinctive bi-colored purple and violet blooms make it a classic choice.
- 'White Supreme': Praised for its excellent fragrance, pure white color, and vigorous growth, this variety has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
- 'Mollie Rilstone': This reliable picotee variety features cream flowers with a rose-pink blush and a lovely scent, making it a favorite for cottage garden arrangements.
- 'King Size Mixed': As the name suggests, this blend is selected specifically for cut flower use, offering large flowers and long, strong stems in a mix of colors.
- 'Dynasty': Known for its rich, hot pink blooms on long, strong stems, 'Dynasty' is a consistent and reliable performer for bouquets.
- 'High Scent': If fragrance is your top priority, this white variety is a powerful choice that fills a room with its scent.
- 'Mammoth Mixed': Perfect for commercial growers, this early-flowering, large-bloomed series features exceptionally long stems.
- 'Just Julia': An excellent mid-blue variety with good fragrance and a strong habit, bred by a sweet pea expert.
- 'Nimbus': A modern Spencer type that is highly sought after by florists. It features long stems and unique stormy dark-blue-violet highlights on a cream background.
- 'Beaujolais': For a dramatic, deep wine-colored bloom, 'Beaujolais' is a prolific Spencer type that performs well in the vase.
Comparison of Cut Flower Sweet Pea Varieties
| Variety | Type | Stem Length | Fragrance | Bloom Color | Key Trait for Cutting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Matucana' | Heirloom Grandiflora | Short | High | Bi-color purple/violet | Strongest classic scent |
| 'White Supreme' | Spencer | Long | Good | Pure White | Reliable, vigorous, AGM winner |
| 'Mollie Rilstone' | Spencer | Long | Good | Cream with pink picotee | Classic cottage garden look |
| 'High Scent' | Modern Grandiflora | Medium | Very High | White | Exceptional, strong fragrance |
| 'Beaujolais' | Spencer | Long | Light | Deep wine red | Excellent vase life and color |
| 'Nimbus' | Modern Spencer | Long | High | Dark violet and cream | Unique, sought-after coloration |
| 'Mammoth Mixed' | Early Multiflora | Very Long | Good | Mixed | Very long stems for arranging |
Essential Tips for Growing Sweet Peas for Bouquets
To maximize your harvest of high-quality, long-stemmed flowers, follow these cultivation techniques:
Soil and Sowing
- Prepare rich soil: Sweet peas are hungry feeders. Before planting, incorporate organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to ensure it's fertile and well-drained.
- Sow at the right time: For the longest bloom season, sow seeds in autumn in a cool greenhouse or cold frame. For a later harvest, spring sowing is also an option.
- Consider soaking seeds: Soaking seeds for 24 hours can help activate germination, though some growers find it unnecessary. Sow in deep pots to accommodate their long taproots.
Training and Tending
- Use a robust support: Sweet peas are vigorous climbers and need a tall, strong structure to climb, such as netting, a trellis, or a tripod.
- Pinch out the tips: When seedlings reach about 10-15cm tall, pinch out the growing tips just above a leaf joint. This encourages bushier growth and more flowering side shoots.
- Remove tendrils (for exhibition quality): For perfectly straight stems, professional growers regularly snip off the small grasping tendrils that can cause stems to curl.
Harvesting and Care for Vase Life
- Cut regularly: The golden rule for sweet peas is to cut flowers frequently. This prevents the plant from producing seed pods, which signals the end of flowering. The more you cut, the more flowers the plant will produce.
- Harvest at the right stage: Pick stems when the lower two or three flowers are fully open but the top flower is still in bud. This ensures the maximum vase life.
- Process immediately: Harvest stems in the cool morning or evening. Immediately place them in a bucket of fresh, cool water, preferably with flower food.
- Treat the stems: For best results, use a commercial hydrating treatment like FLORALIFE® QUICK DIP to maximize water uptake.
- Use fresh water: Change the water in your vase every couple of days and give the stems a fresh cut to prevent bacteria buildup.
Conclusion
Choosing the best sweet peas for cutting depends on your priorities: heirloom Grandifloras for intense fragrance in small arrangements, classic Spencers for long stems and ruffled blooms, or modern hybrids for the best of both worlds. Varieties such as 'White Supreme', 'Matucana', and 'Beaujolais' are consistently excellent choices for bouquets. By focusing on variety selection, proper cultivation techniques like pinching, and frequent harvesting, any gardener can enjoy a bountiful supply of these beautiful and fragrant flowers for stunning floral displays. For further reading on cut flower production, resources like Johnny's Selected Seeds provide extensive growing guides for sweet peas.
