Sweet Pea Henry Eckford

Sweet Pea Henry Eckford is a wonderful heirloom, introduced in the early 1900s, with bold orange-red blooms that gently shade to salmon. Strongly scented and especially striking when grown in part shade, this variety brings heritage charm and fragrance in abundance.

🌸 Flowering: June to August

📏 Height: to 120-150cm

🌿Annual

SOW
Sow in deep pots from October to February and overwinter in a cold frame, or sow in March or April. In mild areas, you can also direct sow in spring. Sow seeds 12–20mm deep. Some gardeners soak seeds overnight before sowing to help with germination — not essential, but worth a try.

GROW
Pinch out the tops when seedlings reach about 5cm to encourage stronger side shoots. Harden off spring-sown plants before planting out in May or June. Overwintered plants often flower earlier. Give them something to climb — wigwams, netting or hazel twigs all work well. Sweet peas are generous with blooms if you keep picking, so don’t hold back.

ENJOY
Enjoy the scent in the garden or bring it indoors in a vase. Keep picking and deadheading to encourage a longer flowering season.

A TOUCH OF HISTORY
Henry Eckford was born in Stenhouse, Scotland, in 1823 and began his gardening career at just 16. After working in several Scottish gardens, he became head gardener for the 5ᵗʰ Earl of Radnor in Berkshire in 1854. It was around this time he began experimenting with plant breeding — starting with dahlias and verbenas.

By 1879, having moved to Gloucester and encouraged in his work, he focused his efforts on sweet peas. In 1888 he set up his own nursery in Wem, Shropshire, where he perfected his now-famous Grandiflora sweet peas. These brought a major leap forward in flower size and overall quality.

Eckford was awarded the prestigious RHS Victoria Medal of Honour in 1905 — the same year he died. Today, the Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem continues his legacy, holding an annual sweet pea show each July, with classes dedicated to the very varieties he developed.