Bobby's Girl Sweet Pea Plants

Bobby's Girl - What a Colour!

Most pink sweet peas are simplely pink. Bobby's Girl is not. The flowers are a warm salmon-cream, with the pink deepening towards the outer edge of each petal in a soft picotee effect that catches the light differently depending on the time of day. Morning sun pulls the colour towards apricot; by evening it has cooled to a dusty rose. Roger Parsons, the National Collection holder, describes the shade as creamy-salmon, and that is about right , though no single word quite covers it.

Bobby's Girl is a Spencer sweet pea, bred by Robert Bolton and Son at their Hampshire nursery and introduced in 2000. The Bolton family have been involved in sweet pea breeding for generations, and Bobby's Girl is among their most successful introductions , a variety that found favour quickly with both exhibitors and home gardeners. It was awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit in the same year it was introduced, which gives you some idea of the impression it made on the trial panel.Mr Bolton is silent on whether the name refers to his wife or his daughter...

What to Expect From the Plant

Large, ruffled Spencer flowers on strong stems, typically four blooms per stem once the plants are established. Height reaches about 1.8m (6ft) with decent support, and flowering is generous from late June through August if you keep picking. Stems are long enough for tall vases without any special treatment , just cut when the bottom flower on the stem is opening and strip the lower leaves.

Scent is moderate to good. Specialist growers rate Bobby's Girl at around 3 out of 5, which translates to a noticeable sweetness in the garden and enough fragrance to scent a small room from a decent bunch. Not the headiest sweet pea you will ever grow, but far from scentless.

Growing Bobby's Girl

Give it a sunny position and soil that has been improved with organic matter the previous autumn. Sweet peas are deep-rooted and hungry, and the difference between a well-fed plant and a neglected one is stark – fewer flowers, shorter stems, and an earlier finish to the season. Work in a generous layer of garden compost or well-rotted manure and leave winter to do the breaking down.

Support is essential. Bamboo canes in a wigwam, hazel pea sticks, or netting stretched between posts all work well. Space your plants about 10-15cm apart and tie in regularly while they find their footing. Once the tendrils grip, growth is rapid.

Water consistently and deeply rather than little and often – sweet peas prefer a good soaking to a daily sprinkle. A fortnightly feed with a high-potash liquid fertiliser once flowering starts will extend the display. Our sweet pea growing guide covers the full detail on sowing, support structures, and seasonal care.

Companion Planting and Colour Schemes

The salmon-cream colouring makes Bobby's Girl unusually versatile. It sits beautifully alongside deep purples and maroons – try it with Almost Black for a combination that looks far more considered than it is. The warmth of the salmon sets off the dark velvety tones without either colour overwhelming the other.

For a lighter palette, pair it with Charlie's Angel (pale blue) or Albutt Blue (lavender picotee). The contrast between warm salmon and cool blue is one of those combinations that always works, whether in the garden or in a mixed bunch for the kitchen table.

Matucana, with its bicolour maroon and violet, adds an old-fashioned intensity alongside Bobby's Girl that is hard to beat for scent and visual impact. And Millennium – deep reddish-purple – creates a rich, jewel-toned display when grown alongside.

Why Buy Your Sweet Peas from Ashridge?

All our sweet peas are grown from seed on our nursery in Castle Cary, Somerset, and we increasingly use our own saved seed to ensure named varieties come true to type. We use only jumbo plugs, which are deeper and better suited to root development than standard plugs. Every seed is hand-sown at a rate of two per plug, and these are grown on in our polytunnels until the seedlings have fully rooted through. Each one is then pinched out at least once to produce a bushier, multi-stemmed plant that will carry more flowers.

On the day of dispatch, your plants are hand-selected in our polytunnel, packed into purpose-designed recycled cardboard packaging, and sent out the same day by next-day courier. Your plants have been gradually introduced to outdoor conditions in our polytunnels and are ready to plant out on arrival.

We've been growing and selling plants since 1949, and by mail order since 2003. We hold the Feefo Platinum Service Award and were named a Which? Gardening Best Plant Supplier; both are independent recognitions of the quality and service our customers receive. So, if anything at all is wrong with your seedlings when they arrive, contact us within five working days, and we'll put it right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bobby's Girl hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit?

Yes – it was awarded the AGM in 2000, the year of its introduction. That immediate recognition from the RHS trials reflects just how strong an impression it made.

What type of sweet pea is Bobby's Girl?

A Spencer – the modern exhibition type with large, waved petals and long stems. Spencers are generally the best choice for cutting.

How strong is the scent?

Moderate – around 3 out of 5 on the Parsons scale. Enough to enjoy in the garden and pleasant in a bunch indoors, though not the most powerfully fragrant Spencer available.

Who bred Bobby's Girl?

Robert Bolton and Son, a Hampshire nursery with deep roots in sweet pea breeding. Introduced commercially in 2000.

Can I grow Bobby's Girl in a container?

Yes. Use a pot of at least 30 litres with good drainage, rich compost, and a support frame. Container-grown sweet peas need more frequent watering – check daily in warm weather.

When will my plants be dispatched?

We send sweet peas out between March and May, timed to your region and the season. You will receive an email with your expected delivery window once you have placed your order. Browse our full sweet pea seedling range.

Is Bobby's Girl an annual?

Yes. Sweet peas complete their lifecycle in a single growing season. Save seed if you wish, though named Spencers may not come entirely true from home-saved seed.