Nasturtiums [1]
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Botanical name: Tropaeolum majus
Plant type: Flower [2]
Sun exposure: Full Sun [3]
Flower color: Red [4], Orange [5], Yellow [6]
Bloom time: Summer [7], Fall [8]
Nasturtium is an easy-to-grow annual whose leaves and flowers are edible. These plants with their bright greenery and vibrant flowers are good for containers or ground covers. Their pretty fragrance also makes them a good choice for cut flowers. Nasturtiums are perfect to grow with children because they grow so easily and rapidly.
Planting
- You can start the seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost.
- Plant seeds in early spring in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. They can grow in partial shade, but they will not bloom as well.
- Nasturtiums prefer poorer soils and they do not need fertilizers (unless your soil is extremely poor). Fertile soil will produce fewer blooms.
- Plant the seeds about half an inch deep and 10 to 12 inches apart. Plants should appear in 7 to 10 days.
Care
- Water regularly throughout the growing season, but be careful not to over-water your plants.
- Cutting off the faded/dead flowers will prolong blooming.
- If you're growing nasturtiums in containers, they may need to be trimmed back occasionally over the growing season.
Pests
- Caterpillars
- Flea beetles [9]
- Aphids [10]
- Slugs [11]
- Whiteflies [12]
- Viruses
Recommended Varieties
- Salmon Baby, to add a pretty salmon-pink color to your garden.
- Variegatus, which is a trailing type with red or orange flowers.
- Peach Melba, which is derived from nasturtiums and has creamy yellow flowers with orange-red centers.