Organic 'Mammoth Mix' Sweet Peas
Organic 'Mammoth Mix' sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) from the seed company Gaia, a flowering vine with vibrant colours and an enchanting fragrance
The 'Mammoth Mix' sweet pea is an old heirloom variety offering a profusion of flowers in a mix of colors: crimson, scarlet, white, lavender, dark pink, medium blue, and pink. The red and purple flowers, particularly fragrant, release a sweet, floral scent that is highly prized in bouquets. The plant forms a vigorous vine, reaching 120 to 180 cm in height, requiring sturdy support, and produces long stems ideal for cut flowers. While not very tolerant of intense heat, it can recover. This sweet pea is valued as much for its fragrance as for its ability to attract pollinators to the garden.
Charming, colorful and generous, it brightens up spring and early summer gardens with its refined flowers.
Companion plants : Beans, Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Pepper, Radish, Spinach, Tomato, Turnip, Mint
Enemy plants : Alliums
Spread/growth : Climbing vine
Plant height : 150 to 180 cm
Quantity per packet : 20 seeds
Certification : Certified organic by Ecocert Canada
Special features : Mixed colours, fragrant flowers, long stems for bouquets, attracts pollinators
Leaf color : Medium green
Texture/flavor : Intense floral aroma (not edible)
Cold tolerance : Down to -5°C
Farming method
Perform a 2-week cold stratification before sowing to optimize germination. Soak the seeds for a maximum of 8 hours in lukewarm water, then sow at a depth of 2.5 cm . Sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, or directly outdoors as soon as the soil is workable in spring. Space plants 15 to 20 cm apart, with 30 to 35 cm between rows. Germination occurs in 7 to 21 days at temperatures between 12 and 18°C , with an optimum around 15°C . Provide full sun (level 3) and moderate watering (level 2). A trellis or netting is necessary to support the vines.
Harvesting and using flowers
Harvest the stems when several flowers in the bouquet are open, ideally in the morning, to enjoy their maximum fragrance. The long stems are perfect for cut flowers . To prolong flowering, regularly remove the seed pods that form.
Usage ideas
• In fragrant bouquets , thanks to their long and flexible stems
• To add color and romance to floral arrangements
• Along a decorative trellis or garden entrance
• To attract pollinators to the vegetable garden
• With floral borders for a classic and colorful touch
The 'Mammoth Mix' sweet pea combines fragrance, vibrant colors, and floral elegance in a heritage variety prized for generations. Vigorous, graceful, and irresistibly aromatic, it brightens spring gardens.
