Sweet Pea Mollie Rilstone

£2.65

This product will be sent direct from the supplier
Description

Sweet Pea 'Mollie Rilstone' Seeds

'Mollie Rilstone' is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Sweet Peas ever bred. It features creamy-white petals that are delicately edged (picotee) with soft antique rose-pink. As the flower ages, the pink gently bleeds into the cream, giving the whole bloom a flushed, romantic appearance.

This variety is a 'Spencer' type, meaning it produces long, straight stems and large, frilly flowers perfect for cutting. However, unlike many modern Spencers which sacrifice smell for size, 'Mollie Rilstone' retains a powerful, heady fragrance, offering you the best of both worlds.


Read More

🌿 Understanding the Plant

Sweet Peas are **Hardy Annuals**.

They live for one season but can withstand cold weather.

The Strategy: You can sow them in Spring for summer flowers, but for the biggest, strongest plants with the longest stems, sow them in Autumn (October/November) and overwinter them in a cold frame.

Top Tip: 'Mollie Rilstone' is a vigorous climber. Give it a tall wigwam or trellis (at least 6ft) and tie it in regularly to keep it growing upwards.


🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Sweet Peas are hungry feeders that need a deep root run.

Germination:
Sow indoors in Oct/Nov or Jan-March. You can soak seeds in tepid water overnight to speed up hydration (optional). Sow 1cm deep in deep pots (root trainers or toilet roll tubes). Keep cool (approx 15°C)—heat inhibits germination! They usually sprout in 10-21 days.

Where to Sow:
They need **full sun** and rich, fertile soil. Dig a trench and fill it with well-rotted manure or compost before planting out. They are climbers, so ensure you have your support structure ready before you plant out.

Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings have 3-4 pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushier growth.
Feed: Once the first flower buds appear, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser (tomato feed).
Pick: You must remove seed pods immediately. If the plant sets seed, it stops flowering. Harvest every 2 days.


📋 Plant Specifications
Latin Name Lathyrus odoratus
Common Name Sweet Pea 'Mollie Rilstone'
Hardiness H3 (Hardy Annual)
Light Required Full Sun ☀️
Height ↕️ 1.8m - 2.4m (Tall Climber)
Spread ↔️ 30cm
Spacing 🌱 20cm - 30cm apart
Great for 👃 Strong Fragrance
👰 Wedding Flowers
✂️ Cutting Patch
🏆 Exhibiting
Seed Count Approx. 25 seeds per packet

🤝 Perfect Garden Companions

To create a truly romantic display, pair 'Mollie Rilstone' with other delicate, picotee, or frothy flowers:

  • ❄️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The bridal bouquet classic. The tiny white flowers of Gypsophila provide the perfect frothy skirt to hide the base of the Sweet Peas, creating a soft, cloud-like effect in the border.
  • 💜 Larkspur 'Fancy Purple Picotee': Create a "Picotee" theme. This Larkspur has the same beautiful edging effect on its petals as 'Mollie Rilstone', but in a contrasting violet-purple. Growing them together creates a very sophisticated, designer look.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow in Autumn for early flowers, or Spring for summer blooms.

Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Sow Seeds 🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢
Flowers 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸

⚠️ Toxicity Warning
Sweet Pea seeds are mildly toxic if eaten in large quantities. Unlike vegetable garden peas, these pods are not for eating. Please keep seeds away from small children.

🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence

'Mollie Rilstone' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). It has been trialled and tested by experts and confirmed as one of the best Sweet Peas available for garden performance.

Delivery & Returns

Delivery:

Delivery to mainland UK is calculated at checkout. For all other areas and large orders please ask for a quote. Orders will be sent by express next day delivery (DPD). They will be dispatched on a next working day service, with the exception of Ireland where it may take two days. Please allow up to 48 hours for delivery in the UK as the couriers may have already been and collected on the day you send your order in. Smaller orders for pouches, pockets, bags and pots may be sent via Royal Mail delivery. Please ensure you supply an email address and a mobile so you can be updated about your delivery. Should you have any problems with your delivery, please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk.

Special Deliveries

Saturday or weekday morning deliveries can be arranged, but there will be a surcharge. Please contact us to request a price for either of these delivery services. If you need a parcel sending outside of the UK, please contact us for a quote.

Returns:

If you are not completely happy with any product that you have ordered from us, you may return it to us in its original condition any time within 14 calendar days from the date of dispatch. Products must be returned in their original condition. Please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk to arrange a return. If you return a product by post, you will need to pay the costs of returning the product to us and obtain proof of posting.

Be a smarter gardener

Gardening organically is a more affordable and long term alternative to using chemical fertilisers. Natural Grower products eliminate waste because the nutrients are slowly released to the plants as they need them. Over the long-term you save money because your soil health naturally improves, which in turn produces healthier, stronger, disease resistant plants. Chemical products may cost less financially in the short term, but they don’t provide any long-term benefits and the damage they do to the natural eco-system in the soil is costly.

Slow release for sustained growth

Organic fertilisers are broken down slowly by organisms in the soil to produce a more measured, consistent, natural release of nutrients. This results in uniform growth with strong stems and leaves, unlike chemical fertilisers which provide a sudden boost resulting in tall lanky plants. Stronger plants are more resistant to disease, and with the presence of mycorrizhal fungi to strengthen the roots, the plants, soil and fungi all work together long-term to create the perfect natural eco-system.

Love your land

The organic matter in Natural Grower will help keep your soil or compost in optimum condition, retain moisture over the dry summer months and improve the health and structure of your soil. The presence of natural Mycorrhizal fungi in our products enhances root growth, enabling plants to extract nutrients and absorb water more efficiently from the soil or compost. By using our products you will be supporting and enhancing the natural eco-system in the soil.

Embrace sustainability

Natural Grower’s chemical free fertiliser products are approved organic, biodynamic and vegan. Plant-based and free from chemicals they are safe to use around wildlife, pets and children. Eco-friendly and sustainably produced in the UK. Our packaging is made from recycled plastic where possible and is all 100% recyclable. We are always happy to refill used containers, and often sell our products in reused containers or slightly damaged packaging at a reduced price. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Recommended by Lucy Hutchings of @shegrowsveg and author of “Get Up and Grow” and recommended by Anna Greenland of @annagreenland and author of "Grow Easy"