Sweet Pea Hotham Red

Product Description

Sweet Pea 'Hotham Red'
Lathyrus annuus

We discovered this delightful variety while visiting England and instantly fell in love. Plants are on the shorter side with long, grass-like foliage smothered with miniature, glowing coral flowers. After flowers fade, coppery bronze pods form. While the flowers don’t have any fragrance, they are worth growing for their unusual coloring and ability to double as a unique foliage. Their adorable tendrils add the most magical touch to arrangements. This plant is wonderful in the garden and also suitable for containers.  This variety has a tough seed coating and must be nicked and soaked for 12 to 24 hours before sowing. Germination is slow, so be patient. 

*Please note: Unlike garden peas, sweet pea seeds are poisonous if ingested. Use caution around children and pets.*

Details:
Plant type: annual
Height: 32-40"
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75-90 days
Plant spacing: 6-8”
Pinch: when 6” tall
Approx seeds per packet: 10

How to Grow:
This variety has a tough seed coating and must be nicked and soaked for 12 to 24 hours before sowing. Germination is slow, so be patient. In mild areas, seed can be sown in pots in the fall, overwintered in a sheltered spot, and planted out in spring. Everywhere else, sow seed 10 to 12 weeks before last frost and transplant out right around last frost. Provide a strong trellis or support for vines to climb.

Harvesting/Vase Life:
While flowers are beautiful, their stems are so short that they are not typically grown as a cut flower. Instead of harvesting individual blooms, harvest entire vining stems. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.