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Sweet Pea (Royal Mix) is a classic climbing annual producing fragrant, butterfly-shaped flowers in a stunning range of colors — pink, red, lavender, white, and bicolor — with the most intensely perfumed blooms of any garden flower. Growing 5–6 feet tall in cool weather (zones 3–9 as an annual), Sweet Peas thrive when sown in fall in mild climates or very early spring (before last frost) in cold climates. The Royal Mix series is selected for strong stems ideal for cutting and exceptional fragrance. Sweet Peas are quintessential cottage garden flowers and extraordinary cut flowers — even a small bunch transforms a room with perfume. They decline rapidly in summer heat, so timing the planting for cool growing conditions is critical.
For best results, sow Royal Mix Sweet Peas in fall in zones 7–10 or in late winter indoors (12–14 weeks before last outdoor frost) in zones 3–6. Soak seeds for 24 hours before planting and nick hard coats with a file. Sow 1 inch deep in rich, deep, well-drained soil. Provide a trellis, netting, or twiggy sticks immediately — they climb by tendrils. Add a balanced fertilizer at planting and liquid tomato food every 2 weeks once flowering begins. Dead-head relentlessly — even one mature seed pod will slow flower production dramatically. Water at the base; wet foliage promotes mildew. Once summer temperatures consistently exceed 85°F, plants decline; pull and compost. Cut armfuls of flowers regularly to keep the display going for weeks.
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