Old Spice Mix Sweet is a treasured heirloom sweet pea blend selected from varieties dating back to around 1900, offering a stunning palette of brilliant colors and rich fragrance that modern varieties simply cannot match. Growing 6 feet tall on a trellis or fence, these frost-hardy annuals burst into bloom from spring through summer, reaching peak flowering in early summer across hardiness zones 2 through 11. With 84 days from seed to bloom and exceptional heat tolerance, this variety delivers the romantic charm of a Victorian cutting garden while thriving in full sun with consistent moisture.
Full Sun
High
2-11
72in H x 8in W
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High
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Baker Creek's careful selection drew from the finest sweet peas of the early 1900s, and the difference shows in the depth of color range and fragrance intensity that gardeners notice immediately. Unlike modern hybrids bred purely for productivity, Old Spice Mix Sweet was chosen for the particular magic gardeners found in those turn-of-the-century bouquets. The heat resistance built into this mix allows it to flower longer and more abundantly than many other heirloom sweet peas, and deer leave it alone entirely while pollinators flock to the blooms.
Old Spice Mix Sweet exists entirely for beauty and fragrance. These are cut flowers at heart, meant to be harvested in the early morning when blooms are fresh and arranged in vases where their perfume can fill a room. The long stems and extended bloom season make them exceptional for continuous cutting throughout early summer, encouraging more flowers rather than allowing the plant to set seed. They're also grown as ornamental vines on trellises and fences, where the cascading blooms create a romantic vertical garden feature.
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Sow seeds in deep pots 4 to 6 weeks before your planned transplant date. Maintain temperatures between 55 and 65°F during germination. Once seedlings emerge and before leaves fully unfurl, move them to cold conditions outside to acclimate. Seeds may be rubbed with sandpaper and soaked in warm (110°F) water for one hour before planting to hasten germination.
Transplant outdoors after last spring frost when soil has warmed to at least 55°F. Space plants 6 inches apart into deeply prepared soil rich with compost and aged manure. Harden off seedlings gradually before final planting.
Direct sow in early spring 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as soil temperature reaches 55°F. Soak seeds overnight before planting to improve germination rates. Plant at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch, spacing seeds 6 inches apart.
Cut flowers in the early morning when blooms are freshest and petals are just opening. Use a clean knife dipped in a solution of 10% household bleach to make cuts. Peak bloom time occurs in early summer, with plants typically finishing by mid-July unless extending into later months under ideal conditions. A few drops of bleach added to the vase water will prolong the beauty of cut flowers.
Regular cutting of flowers encourages more blooms and extends the flowering season throughout early summer and beyond. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% bleach solution to harvest blooms in the morning when petals are just opening and freshest. Removing spent flowers before seed pods mature channels the plant's energy into continuous flowering rather than seed production.
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“This heirloom blend represents a curated selection of sweet pea varieties that were treasured by gardeners around 1900. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds made the deliberate choice to source and preserve varieties from that era rather than succumb to the modern breeding trends that prioritized yield and uniformity over character. By returning to those original genetics, they've reclaimed a moment in horticultural history when sweet peas were grown specifically for their intoxicating fragrance and the rainbow of colors that made them essential cutting flowers in every cottage garden. This variety survives as a living connection to gardening practices a century past.”