Download ArticleDownload ArticleX
This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
How.com.vn marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 205,586 times.
Nasturtiums are easy to grow and make a lovely addition to the garden. As well as providing a beautiful splash of color, nasturtiums have edible leaves, seeds and flowers. They have a pleasant peppery taste and are chock-full of vitamin C.
Steps
Choose a suitable nasturtium variety for your garden. The variety will depend on what you expect from the nasturtium, as well as the space you have available:- Indian Cress - this is a vigorous trailing grower, good for a large garden; it's also known as the common garden nasturtium. The flowers come in shades of orange, yellow and red and it should flower all summer. This is an ideal plant to train up a trellis or fence.
- Dwarf nasturtium - a small bush variety, better for a smaller garden space. It has a wide range of flower shades and is easy to control in the garden.
- Peach Melba - has yellow flowers with orange-red centers, a popular addition to salads.
- Salmon Baby - has a unique orange-pink hue that looks great in the garden.
Consider starting the seeds indoors. Nasturtiums are commonly started indoors so they'll begin to flower as soon as possible in the spring, after the last frost has passed. If you want to start your seeds indoors, plan to do so four to six weeks before the last spring frost. To start the seeds indoors,- Plant each seed in a peat pot, which can be transplanted directly to the ground to avoid disturbing the roots. Use seed substrate, rather than potting soil.
- Keep the seeds in a bright window, and keep the peat moist.
- Plant the seedlings after the last frost of the spring has passed.
Advertisement
Select a good planting spot. Nasturtiums like full sun, but they need to be shielded from midday summer heat. Since they're so low maintenance, nasturtiums are excellent for growing in spots that need covering up or for those stark, unloved parts of your garden.- Nasturtiums don't mind growing in a container; they'll flower just as profusely in a container as in the ground.
- Hanging baskets are also an ideal choice.
Prepare the soil. Nasturtiums like loose, well-drained soil that retains moisture. They prefer soil that is not rich, so don't use fertilizer. If there is too much fertilizer in the soil, nasturtiums focus on producing more leaves rather than flowers.Avoid any area with heavy, wet clay soil.
Direct sow or transplant seedlings after the last frost. If you're direct sowing seeds, plant them 10 inches apart and about ½ inch deep. If you're transplanting seedlings, keep them in their peat seed starters and plant them directly in the ground. This will prevent root damage. Keep the planting bed evenly moist.- You can nick the seeds or soak them in warm water overnight to help them germinate more quickly.[1]
- Direct sown seeds should sprout in seven to ten days.
Advertisement
Water only when the soil dries out. There's an old saying that goes, "be nasty to nasturtiums." They like poor soil and not too much water, and giving them fertilizer and lots of fresh water will cause them to die. That said, nasturtiums do need water when the soil dries out. They should be watered deeply a few times a week.- Press your finger into the soil to see if it's time to water. If the soil feels dusty and dry, it's time. If it feels moist just below the surface, wait a day or two.
- Water around the roots, rather than from above. Water in the morning so the plants dry out completely before nightfall. Too much moisture around nightfall could cause the plants to grow mold.
Weed the area carefully. Nasturtiums look a little like common weeds before they begin to flower. You may want to mark the planting site with a label to prevent accidentally pulling up the seedlings. Once you're sure what's a flower and what's a weed, keep the the garden bed weed-free so the nasturtiums don't have to compete for water and nutrients.
Pick off aphids and other pests. Nasturtiums are very prone to getting attacked by aphids, cucumber beetles, cabbage butterflies, and other common garden pests. Picking the bugs off one by one and dropping them into a pail of soapy water is a great organic solution. You can also spray the flowers with water or wipe them with soapy water to deter pests.- Many gardeners plant nasturtium on the borders of their gardens to keep pests away from crops like cabbage, squash, and eggplant. Gardeners who employ this method should be sure to check the plant for pests once a week and remove them as necessary.
Cut off dead or faded flowers. This will encourage new, healthy growth. Deadhead the plants often in order to keep your plants flowering as long as possible through the season.
Advertisement
Harvest the flowers and leaves throughout the growing season. Both nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. Use a pair of scissors to snip off what you need. Try not to take too much from one plant. Nasturtiums have a strong taste, and a little goes a long way.
Use the nasturtiums in salads and as garnishes. Nasturtium petals and leaves have a strong, peppery taste that pairs wonderfully with all sorts of dishes. Try nasturtium as part of the following items:- Eat the leaves and petals as part of a mixed green salad. Pair them with sweeter greens, like spinach, to offset the peppery taste.
- Mix chopped leaves or petals into potato or egg salad.
- Add leaves or petals to vegetarian sandwiches.
- Use whole flowers as a garnish for salads, pastas and even sweet desserts, like cupcakes.
Save the seeds for next year. Toward the end of the growing season, nasturtiums will produce seeds that will mature and drop. Brush off the dirt and store the seeds in a paper bag in a cool, dark place over the winter. In the spring, you can plant them in the garden again.[2]
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
- QuestionDo nasturtium seeds need to be soaked before planting?
Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistYes, the seeds need to be soaked for about 8-12 hours in warm water before planting. Do not oversoak them or use extremely hot water. Plant them quickly after soaking. - QuestionHow long does it take to grow a nasturtium?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistNasturtium flower 30-55 days after seed germination. This means you'll have beautiful flowers in 1-2 months. - QuestionWhat part of nasturtiums can you eat?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistYou can eat the majority of the plant, however, the seeds are extremely toxic.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
SubmitAdvertisement
Video
Tips
- Nasturtiums are originally from South America, from Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.Thanks
- Other species include T. speciosum (a climber with scarlet flowers suitable to cool summer climates), T. azureum (rare, with blue flowers) and T. tuberosum (canary yellow flowers, ideal in a rock garden).Thanks
- Although plant is an annual, if the weather is continuously warm, T. majus can survive for several years. It will also self-sow freely.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Aphids like nasturtiums. Use a soapy spray to get rid of them before they can damage leaves and flower buds.Thanks
Advertisement
References
About This Article
Home & Garden Specialist
This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. This article has been viewed 205,586 times.
Co-authors: 12
Updated: November 30, 2023
Views: 205,586
Categories: Growing Flowers
Article SummaryX
To grow nasturtiums, start by planting some nasturtium seeds in peat pots indoors 4-6 weeks before last expected frost. Then, place the pots in a bright window and keep the soil moist until the seedlings sprout. Once the seedlings have sprouted and the last frost has passed, transplant your nasturtiums into a sunny outdoor spot or an outdoor pot or hanging basket. To care for your nasturtiums, water them only when the soil dries out, and avoid fertilizing them. To learn how to harvest and use nasturtiums, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 205,586 times.
Reader Success Stories
"This article first helped me to identify a flower that was given to me by a friend. I knew the flower was edible, but I learned that the leaves are edible also. I was given some seeds and have learned how to keep them for next year's planting. I found the article very informative."..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
Advertisement
