Perfume Delight Sweet Pea is a fragrant climbing annual that reaches 6 to 8 feet tall, producing abundant blooms across hardiness zones 2 through 9. This heirloom variety thrives in cool-season gardens, flowering prolifically before summer heat arrives. Growing from seed is straightforward: plant in early spring or late fall (depending on your climate) at a soil temperature of 55 to 65°F, spacing seedlings 5 inches apart once established. The vines grow dense and heavy with flowers, so sturdy trellising is essential. For the longest display of blooms, deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season.
Partial Sun
Moderate
2-9
96in H x ?in W
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High
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Perfume Delight lives up to its name with abundant, fragrant blooms that reward early spring planting with weeks of continuous flowers. These vigorous climbing vines need solid support structures as they become laden with blossoms, making them as much a garden architecture project as a planting decision. The frost tolerance combined with cool-season preference means gardeners in cold climates can actually get a head start in early spring, while those in warmer regions should sow in late fall for spring flowering.
Sweet pea flowers are grown primarily for cutting and fresh arrangement, prized for their fragrance and delicate blooms in gardens and bouquets. The edible flowers can be used as garnish in salads and desserts, though the plant is cultivated mainly for ornamental and olfactory pleasure rather than culinary substance.
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Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix and maintain a soil temperature of 55 to 65°F. Thin seedlings to one plant every 6 inches when they reach 3 inches tall. Transplant outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, once they've been hardened off.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final planting. Space plants 5 inches apart in their final location, ensuring sturdy trellis or support structures are in place before planting.
Direct sow seeds outdoors as early as possible in spring in cold climates, or in late fall to early winter in mild climates for spring bloom. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to one plant every 6 inches when they reach 3 inches tall. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 55 to 65°F.
Harvest flowers for cutting when blooms are fully open but still fresh, typically in the early morning. Cut stems just above a leaf node or flower bud to encourage branching and further blooming. For edible flowers, harvest petals when they are fully colored and before they begin to wilt.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to prolong blooming and encourage continuous flower production. This maintenance task is essential for maximizing the floral display.
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