Nifty Nasturtium

Nasturtiums are a must have in my garden. They are a tender perennial which are grown as an annual in Zone 5. They will bloom all season long until frost. Nasturtiums come in a range of yellow, orange, red, and even cream. I love the bright splashes of color they bring to the garden and their foliage is rather whimsical with round, bright green leaves on long wavy stems. They are edible and help provide protection against pests. What’s not to love?

There are multiple benefits to growing Nasturtiums. First off, as I mentioned, they’re edible. They have a distinct peppery flavor. The leaves, flowers, and even the seeds are all edible. I’ve heard some say the flavor is similar to watercress. I like the pop of spice they add to dishes. Ad leaves and flowers to salads, or sauces. They make a great garnish for pasta dishes as well. The young green seeds can be used as capers would be used.

Another benefit to planting Nasturtium in the garden is they make an excellent companion plant for almost any vegetable.  They attract beneficial bugs, repel some bad bugs and act as a “trap crop” to lure others away from your veggies. Nasturtium repel whiteflies, cabbage pests, and squash bugs and attract pollinators, as well as hoverflies, which will attack aphids. If you’re planting Nasturtium to keep pests away from your veggies, you’ll need to accept the fact that some will take a toll on them. Aphids and leaf miners are attracted to Nasturtium, so don’t fret if you see them. The good news is it keeps them away from your other plants.

Nasturtium seeds can be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost. They do OK in partial shade, but they just won’t bloom as well as they do in full sun. What’s nice about these flowers is that they kind of like poor soil. They like it well drained (not dry) and don’t even really need fertilizer. Now, keep in mind, if you have really terrible soil, you will need to feed them a little. Just be sure not to add too much nitrogen or they won’t bloom as well. Lots of times people think the more fertilizer, the more blooms, but not so with Nasturtium. They will bloom less with extremely fertile soil.

Stages of Nasturtium seeds. From green, fresh off the plant, to fully dried and ready for saving.

When you’re ready to start your seeds, you’ll get a better germination rate if you prep the seed to remove the protective coating. You can either soak them overnight in water or take an emery board and give a light file to the surface to rough them up. Once prepped, plant them about half an inch deep. If your soil is at least 70 degrees, and kept evenly moist, it usually takes about 7 to 10 days for seedlings to appear. Harden off as you typically would and transplant outside after the last frost. As the plants start to grow, you can pinch them back to get more bushy plants. If you want longer vines, or trailing plants, just let them do their thing and only pinch back if they become leggy.

If you dead head the plant, you’ll be rewarded with tons of blooms. If you let the blossoms fall off on their own, they will produce tons of seed. Win-win either way. When the plants produce seeds, the easiest way to save them is by letting them fall off the plant and then collect them. Place them on a tray or dish in a single layer and let them dry out until they turn from green to brown. They will shrink in size and look hard and shriveled. Once fully dry you can save them for planting the following year. Don’t you just love free plants?

Until next time…

Dream Big, Plant Love, and Grow Where You’re Planted

XOXO - Laurie