Growing Sweet Peas for Cutting: The Best Varieties for Scent and Long Stems

Growing Sweet Peas for Fragrance and Cutting

Sweet peas are one of those nostalgic flowers that feel woven into early summer itself. Their ruffled petals, climbing stems and unmistakable scent make them a favourite for cutting gardens, and once you’ve grown them, it’s hard to imagine a year without them.

For me, sweet peas are all about scent and abundance. They are flowers you grow to cut, armfuls at a time, bringing the perfume of the garden indoors and sharing it generously. With the right varieties and a little care, they will flower for weeks on end.

Choosing sweet peas for scent and cutting

Not all sweet peas are created equal. Some are grown mainly for colour, while others are bred specifically for long stems and strong fragrance. If you want sweet peas that really earn their place in the garden, variety choice matters.

Spencer sweet peas

Spencer varieties are the classic choice for cutting gardens.

• Long, strong stems

• Large, frilled flowers

• Excellent scent (though strength varies by variety)

Popular Spencer varieties include:

• ‘Matucana’ – deep maroon and purple, intensely scented and one of the best for fragrance

• ‘Mrs Collier’ – soft cream with a lovely traditional scent

• ‘Sir Jimmy Shand’ – pale lavender-blue with strong stems and good perfume

  
  

These are the sweet peas I rely on most for cutting - generous, elegant and long-lasting in the vase.

Grandiflora (old-fashioned) sweet peas

Grandiflora varieties are often considered the most powerfully scented of all.

• Slightly smaller flowers

• Shorter stems than Spencers

• Exceptional fragrance

  
  

They are perfect if scent is your main priority, or if you’re growing sweet peas simply to enjoy them outdoors.

When to sow

In the UK, sweet peas can be sown either in autumn or late winter to early spring.

• Autumn sowing (October–November) produces strong plants that flower early the following summer. If you sow in autumn, you’ll need to offer some protection over winter in colder weather — a greenhouse, cold frame or a layer of gardener’s fleece during hard frosts will help keep young plants safe.

• Spring sowing (January–March) works well if you’ve missed autumn or don’t have space to overwinter seedlings.

  
  

Both methods work beautifully. Autumn-sown plants often feel more robust, but spring-sown sweet peas still reward you generously.

How to sow sweet peas

Sweet pea seeds are large and easy to handle.

1. Use deep pots or root trainers, sweet peas quickly develop long roots.

2. Sow one seed per pot, about 2–3 cm deep.

3. Water gently and place somewhere cool and bright.

   
   

Soaking seeds overnight can help speed up germination, but it isn’t essential. Good compost, steady moisture and patience usually do the job.

Growing on and planting out

Keep seedlings cool and well-lit to prevent leggy growth. Once plants have two or three pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip. This encourages side shoots, which means more stems and more flowers later on.

Plant out once the risk of hard frost has passed, hardening plants off gradually. Sweet peas thrive in:

• Rich, fertile soil

• Full sun

• Open, well-ventilated positions

  
  

Before planting, enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure. Sweet peas are hungry plants, and good preparation shows in the quality of the flowers.

Supporting sweet peas for cutting

Tall sweet peas need strong supports. Hazel sticks, willow frames, netting or trellis all work well. Natural supports suit sweet peas beautifully and are easy to adjust as plants grow.

Tie in young stems gently and guide them regularly. Keeping growth upright helps produce straighter, longer stems, ideal for cutting.

Caring for maximum flowers

To keep sweet peas flowering for as long as possible, a little regular attention makes a big difference.

• Water deeply, especially during dry weather

• Feed weekly with a high-potash feed once flowering starts

• Cut flowers frequently - ideally every few days

  
  

Cutting, deadheading and tendrils

Cutting and deadheading are essential if you want a long flowering season. Sweet peas are annuals with one goal: to set seed. If flowers are left to fade and form seed pods, the plant will quickly slow down, flowering will reduce, and eventually stop altogether.

Regular picking keeps the plant focused on producing flowers rather than seed. Even if you don’t want flowers indoors, it’s worth cutting them anyway to keep plants going.

It’s also a good idea to remove the tendrils as plants grow. Tendrils love to wrap themselves around neighbouring stems, which can cause tangling, bent growth and snapped flower stems. Snipping them off helps keep growth neat and directs the plant’s energy into producing strong stems and blooms rather than excess foliage.

This small, regular job pays off in straighter stems, better air flow and more flowers overall. I quite enjoy deadheading and cutting tendrils, it is a nice mindful task, 5 minutes of peace and quiet.

Cutting and enjoying sweet peas

Cut sweet peas early in the morning, when stems are fully hydrated and scent is strongest. Condition them in water straight away. Even a small bunch will scent a room. I love placing them somewhere you pass often, a kitchen table or hallway.

A final thought

Sweet peas are flowers that reward attention. Choose the right varieties, pick them often, and they will give and give in return. If you’re growing sweet peas this year, grow them with scent and cutting in mind. There’s nothing quite like filling your home with flowers you’ve grown yourself, especially when they smell as good as sweet peas do!