Sweet Peas, by Lesley Gambin a specialist Sweet Pea grower. June's meeting

Our speaker last month was Lesley Gambin who is a specialist Sweet Pea grower based in Essex.  Their garden at Blunts Hall Nursery (http://bluntshallgarden.co.uk/) is open for the NGS by arrangement for visits.  They grow mainly for the production of seeds.

We were told about the history of sweet pea growing and some historical growers who investigated and propagated sweet peas.  John Ray was a botanist whose mum was a herbalist.  He discovered the 'Cupani' variety which is small, red and mauve with lots of perfume and still popular today. He is followed by Henry Eckford who came from Scotland a horticulturist and reputedly the most famous breeder of sweet peas. There was a lot of competition amongst seed suppliers over the supply of seeds. Ernest King of ‘Kings Seeds’ who still exist today, had their extensive trial beds in Coggeshall Essex supplying 160 varieties of seeds. Ernest called himself the ‘Sweet Pea King’.

Blunts Hall Nursery have sandy loam soil with a ph of 7.5 which is slightly acid.  Its is generally sandy loam along the A12 corridor and so ideal conditions to grow sweet peas. ‘Painted Lady is one of their favourites. It is small and dainty and can be grown in a pot.

There are different varieties of sweet peas.  The older varieties tend to be smaller. Grandiflora varieties are medium sized and Spencer varieties are larger.  Grandiflora have a better sent. Sweet peas are annuals grown from seed each year.  You can either sow your seed in late autumn October/November or in early spring (January/February).  Plant them on wigwams or in rows up rows of parallel stakes supported at the top (an elongated wigwam). Add lots of compost and maybe a little manure if possible. In order to keep them flowering it is essential that you cut off the dead flower before it forms it’s seed pod. It is best to cut the flowers daily and put them in vase so they never go to seed.

Lesley recommended a trip to Helmingham Hall near Ipswich if you would like to see a good display of sweet peas growing. Helmingham Hall is open Sunday to Thursday.

Cupani  

    

                                       

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Painted Lady