Rosemummy - It's just a fact that SP stems will naturally shorten has the plant ages and gets weaker. Flowering from plants of autumn sown seed will be drawing to a close soon, whilst those from spring sown seed will (hopefully) go on into the autumn.
Having said that, there are some other factors to consider. Generally modern introductions have longer stems (a show-bench requirement) than older, say Spencer varieties. Also (as Lily says) patio & other varieties will have shorter stems.
To repeat what I've said many times, buy the best quality seed you can afford and make two sowings, autumn & spring.
Thanks all, no I did try to buy one patio variety but when we went away my watered forgot them! I have cups I, Gwendoline ( thanks David! ) all butt blue,painted lady, blue velvet, spencer mix and fire and ice, the worst culprit is cupani, I think it's age ( thogh not much difference in spring and autumn) and in the pot , which I knew wouldn't do as well but I am short of space, anyway, having listened to good advice here ( thanks again David! ) I've had at least 10 vases of sweet peas in the house for the last 6 weeks
Thank you for the advce earlier David (& BL). Unfortunately they died. However, I am going to have another go next year and may well choose some of your recommendations, especially Oxford Blue, just hope we don't suffer the same long hot heatwave of this year.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
I have to agree, it's been a below average summer in terms favourable weather for growing good sweet peas.
Turning our thoughts of buying & sowing our seed for next year, I would recommend (especially for cut flowers) looking at the frilly flowered, picotee varieties......Eagle's 'Fancy Collection' is one of the best I've tried.
David yours are lovely, I especially like the first vase ones. I know I'm barred from this thread after my previous comments But I think you might have convinced me to sow some in the Autumn..best check back what to do with them..I know no mamby panding tough as old boots if no cold winds
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Rosemummy - It's just a fact that SP stems will naturally shorten has the plant ages and gets weaker. Flowering from plants of autumn sown seed will be drawing to a close soon, whilst those from spring sown seed will (hopefully) go on into the autumn.
Having said that, there are some other factors to consider. Generally modern introductions have longer stems (a show-bench requirement) than older, say Spencer varieties. Also (as Lily says) patio & other varieties will have shorter stems.
To repeat what I've said many times, buy the best quality seed you can afford and make two sowings, autumn & spring.
Thanks all, no I did try to buy one patio variety but when we went away my watered forgot them! I have cups I, Gwendoline ( thanks David! ) all butt blue,painted lady, blue velvet, spencer mix and fire and ice, the worst culprit is cupani, I think it's age ( thogh not much difference in spring and autumn) and in the pot , which I knew wouldn't do as well but I am short of space, anyway, having listened to good advice here ( thanks again David! ) I've had at least 10 vases of sweet peas in the house for the last 6 weeks
Yes. Ine have really come away
White Frills , Oxford Blue Burgandy, pink (lost label!) best for long stems, must be about 9"
its going to be a short season tho as had some chilly nights, this is the pink one
A A Milne
Gorgeous
mine were a disaster this year so already pulled up!
Thank you for the advce earlier David (& BL). Unfortunately they died.
However, I am going to have another go next year and may well choose some of your recommendations, especially Oxford Blue, just hope we don't suffer the same long hot heatwave of this year. 
I have to agree, it's been a below average summer in terms favourable weather for growing good sweet peas.
Turning our thoughts of buying & sowing our seed for next year, I would recommend (especially for cut flowers) looking at the frilly flowered, picotee varieties......Eagle's 'Fancy Collection' is one of the best I've tried.
Ooh thanks for that David
A A Milne
Picotees are something like so.
David yours are lovely, I especially like the first vase ones. I know I'm barred from this thread after my previous comments
But I think you might have convinced me to sow some in the Autumn..best check back what to do with them..I know no mamby panding 
tough as old boots if no cold winds 