Family: Fabaceae
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ was bred by the renowned sweet pea breeder, Henry Eckford. This sweet pea cultivar was introduced for the first time in 1907. A delightfully vivid flowered sweet pea cultivar, Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ plants produce vibrantly coloured, cerise-magenta coloured flowers.
The wing petals of Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ blooms are a fraction of a paler shade of magenta than the standard petals, so if you’re looking to order seed of this sweet pea cultivar online, don’t forget to look in the ‘Bi-Colour’ section of your seed merchant’s website. Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ is an old fashioned sweet pea cultivar, but this is a lovely sweet pea, with a sweet fragrance, that’s well worth growing.
In the UK, Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ seeds can be sown from September until April (from early autumn until late spring). Plants raised from later sown seeds naturally won’t flower quite as early as the plants grown from seed sown in autumn. I sow my Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ seeds in tall pots that are large enough to accommodate the sweet pea’s deep roots. I favour using Rootrainers to raise sweet peas, as the form and design of these seed trays helps to encourage strong root formation, which creates strong and healthy plants. I’ve found that all sweet peas thrive in peat-free growing media – I enjoy using Dalefoot Composts Wool Compost for Potting to raise my sweet pea plants.
Sweet peas are hardy plants. There’s no need to use a greenhouse or polytunnel – sweet peas are happiest growing outside. I used to live in Scotland, where I grew my sweet pea plants outside, without any problems whatsoever. I find that if you cosset sweet pea plants too much and grow them in a glasshouse or under protection, the plants become weaker and less sprightly versions of themselves.
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Annie B Gilroy’ is a tall, climbing sweet pea; plants grow to around 2m (6.5ft) tall.
This plant is a hardy annual that grows, flowers, sets seed, and then dies in the same year. Plants that have their flowers cut several times a week will bloom and live for longer. For optimum flowering and lifespan, do not allow the flowers to set seed – remove the flowers before they fade. I find that the more sweet pea flowers you cut – the more flowers your plants will produce.
I’ve written lots of articles about growing sweet peas.
To see my sweet pea plant pages, please click here.
