Sydney Harrod’s personal opinions and comments. Links were verified on 7th May,
2009.
*** Eagle Sweet Peas (Derek Heathcote) sells Spencer and Old-Fashioned seed. Many
of the Spencers are Eagle introductions not to be seen elsewhere on the web. The
web-site has a number of portraits of Spencers and they are probably the best specimens
on the web, but they are heavily "watermarked" for copyright protection and therefore
hard to appreciate. Go to http://www.eaglesweetpeas.co.uk
*** Keith Hammett - seeds from the world’s leading innovator are now available in
the UK from Seedngrow who show Hammett’s own superb enlargeable photos at their site
http://www.seedngrow.com/sweet-peas-from-keith-hammett/cat_18.html
*** Kerton Sweet Peas (Phil and Joyce Kerton) sells Somerset-grown Spencer seed and
plants. Originally Kerton specialised in varieties from amateur raisers, but now
include some good own-bred peas. Crisp cultural guidance is given (we would disregard
the advice not to chip or soak seed!). Many of the sorts are pictured in thumbnail,
most on a black ground, giving a good idea of the colours but not much idea of the
shapes. Go to http://www.kertonsweetpeas.co.uk
** E W King & Co Ltd (Monks Farm, Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon, Colchester CO5 9PG)
A fast site but confusing: has a big selection and some mediocre pictures - go to
http://www.kingsseeds.com/kolist/1/FLOWERS/F-S/SWEET+PEA/SEPARATE+COLOURS
King’s printed catalogues are very good: ask specially for the Sweet Pea ones.
*** Matthewman Sweet Peas (Dave and Pauline Matthewman) sells seed of Spencer and
Old-Fashioned sorts, with an emphasis on exhibition varieties. Nine old-fashioned
varieties are offered. The web-site offers pop-up pictures of 22 of the 35 Spencers
listed, and the only web picture of their mauve novelty George Priestley. Go to http://www.sweetpeasonline.co.uk
***** Owl's Acre Sweet Peas (Mark Rowland) supplies seed and flowers. On line, a
very well discriminated collection of standard and fancy Spencers and Old-Fashioned
varieties is available, with a fully illustrated catalogue annotated as to suitability
for purposes, as well as books, cultural advice, etc.. The steadily expanding range
of dwarf and early-flowering Sweet Peas is second to none. At Owl's Acre web-site,
picture quality is generally very good, 'specially on the PDF version of the printed
catalogue which is included. Sadly, large photos are still watermarked to discourage
copying, but less obtrusively than at Eagle Sweet Peas Go to http://www.lathyrus.com
**** Roger Parsons Sweet Peas sells the widest range of Spencer varieties, which
includes some older ones not otherwise available and several exciting novelties.
All other classes including species and Cuthbertsons are represented too. Roger
puts great professional emphasis on stock and seed QUALITY. This is a slick web-site,
with clear though unduly pale photographs, and it is backed up by a good price list
and sensible collections and pricing. Go to http://www.rpsweetpeas.co.uk
** The Plantsmiths (Celia and Keith Smith) sell an excellent range of Spencer and
Old-Fashioned plants of the highest quality by mail-order from their Midway nursery
in mid-Wales for delivery in March. A site that still retains its human and feline
interest, it is now an overall green colour which may help with speed of display
but I find too drab.
http://www.plantsmiths.co.uk
*** Unwins Seeds Limited (Alconbury Hill, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE28 4HY) has a wide
range of Spencer and other varieties, displayed on an efficient and attractive web-site
that covers much more than Sweet Peas. Many of their varieties are described and
pictured. If you click on the picture, or on “more”, a description page will appear
showing more of the picture. Click on the nearby thumbnail picture and you get an
larger picture in a black frame. Many of the pictures are dramatic, some look artificial.
Go to http://www.unwinsdirect.co.uk/?PAGEID=20671&ctl_cat_Code=11014
The following specialist firm is not yet listing its Sweet Peas on the Internet:
Peter Grayson, 34 Glenthorne Close, Brampton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 3AR
Sadly, Frances Woodcock has retired: however, Roger Parsons can supply the unique
varieties she has transferred to him.
