Sweet peas are the wedding flowers par excellence. They are the most popular choice of flowers for brides planning a spring or early summer wedding. Cut flower sweet peas, however, are a highly specialised crop, and florists are often reluctant to accept orders due to the uncertainty of supply. Most brides would prefer to accept their second choice of flowers rather than risk being let down just before the wedding.
Traditionally, pastel colours are preferred for wedding flowers, and sweet pea flowers are available in a very wide rage of pastel shades. Large flowers and long stems are appropriate for large arrangements, but for table decoration short stems are perfectly adequate. Indeed, for a corsage, the smaller flowered, highly scented heirloom sweet peas are ideal. These, however, are not grown commercially for cut flower and so are extremely unlikely to be available.
But all is not lost. More and more families are starting to grow their own wedding flowers. Sweet peas are generous with their blooms, and top quality flowers are not needed for corsages or table decoration. What is required, is forward planning. Seed needs to be autumn sown to get flowers in late May or early June; for a later wedding either spring or autumn sowing should be suitable. If earlier flowers are required, try growing one of the early flowering sweet peas such as Winter Sunshine, but be aware that these are less frost hardy than the usual types and require a higher degree of skill.
Even earlier flowers may be had under glass, but be sure to grow the correct sorts. Winter Sunshine sweet peas grown in a frost protected greenhouse will provide flower for an April wedding, or the Spring Sunshine strain, similarly grown, for a May wedding. Both must be autumn sown, with the latter the easier crop to grow. It is not advisable to force the late flowering Spencer or grandiflora varieties under glass as bud drop is likely to be severe.
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© 2006 P E M Rowland.