The nasturtium is a cheerful and easy-to-grow flower! Their bold blooms and edible leaves, flowers, and seedpods make them an especially fun flower for kids to plant and a favorite companion plant in the garden. Here’s how to grow your own nasturtiums!
About Nasturtiums
These lovely plants, with their unique greenery and vibrant flowers, grow well in containers or as ground cover around vegetable gardens. In fact, they are often used as a trap crop in companion planting, drawing aphids and other garden pests away from the more valuable vegetables.
- Nasturtium is a friend of: bean, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, kale, melon, pumpkin, and radish.
Pests aren’t the only thing nasturtiums attract, however. They are also a favorite of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and their pretty fragrance makes them a good choice for cut-flower gardens, too.
Nasturtiums are grown as annual plants in most areas, though they may perennialize in frost-free zones.
Types of Nasturtiums
There are many varieties of nasturtiums, which are divided into two main types: trailing or climbing types (Tropaeolum majus) and bush types (T. minus). As their names suggest, the main difference between them is their growth habit, with trailing nasturtiums forming long vines and bush nasturtiums remaining more compact. (Bush types are also sometimes called “dwarf” nasturtiums.)
Trailing nasturtiums are a great choice for growing in a window box or hanging basket, as their vines will drape and climb beautifully. Bush nasturtiums are a better choice for smaller gardens where space is limited.
Edible Flowers
An important feature of all nasturtiums is their edibility! Nasturtiums’ leaves, flowers, and seedpods have a peppery, almost mustard-like taste, which makes them lovely as a garnish in salads. The seedpods may also be pickled and used like capers.
Check out our video to learn more about the benefits of growing nasturtiums:
Reader Comments
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vines dried out
hi, i live in San Francisco and my vines were really full and green early spring but now the vines are turning yellow and shriveling up and the flowers are dying off. i have nasturtiams in two other beds (those beds appear ok for now) and crawling up an ugly cyclone fence. we are in a drought but my neighborhood is in the constant SF fog and wind. they get good sun in the day when its out. do you have any idea what is causing them to die off? will i loose all my beds? (they are a great cover on the cyclone fence and would hate to loose that plus they grow alot faster than jasmine) please advise. Thanks! -eddie
Not germinating
I planted fresh (purchased this season) Nasturtium seeds both in the ground and in containers after all risk of frost and it’s been 2 weeks and nothing has germinated. The package said to soak the seeds overnight which I did. Any ideas what’s going on? Should I keep waiting?
nasturtiums
Re Cooking: I have also used the dried seeds in stews. They add a nice peppery flavour.
Pest Control
If I use these as pest control, should I be worried about the pests destroying them? How do I also keep them healthy?
Nasturtium Hardiness Zones
Your hardiness zones for nasturtiums is incorrect. The hardiness zones are not 10-11; they are 2-11. Big difference.
Hardiness Zones
The hardiness zones listed on this page indicate where the plant is capable of surviving winter. Nasturtiums can be grown in zones 2-11, but are typically only hardy in 10 and 11.
This page—- nasturtiums
I love how this page is laid out. It has all the valuable information about Nasturtiums. Is there a book with this same information, all of it, on other specific plants?
This literally ALL the helpful info on this plant and I’d love to see more of this.
nasturtiums
I found 4 seeds in the bottom of a packet so planted them. They have gone mad. Trailing 6feet and more. I have hung them on some string stretched across a fence. They are looking very healthy. Are they winter hardy? we have had a couple of frosts and that doesn't seem to have bothered them. If I just leave them, will they be OK or should I try to pot them up and over winter them in the greenhouse?
Seedling Nasturtium in December?
Hi The Editor,
I live in zone 10. Some of my Nasturtium from last year reseeded themselves and have grown plants back in my yard now in December. I just purchased some more seeds. Can I start seedlings now or need to wait until Spring? Thank you.
Perfect for the living room
Perfect for the living room
Can u cut the big leaves off nasturtiums
If I did this would I see more of the flowers
nasturtium leaves
The leaves are the way the plant gets its food to grow so don’t cut the leaves too early. However, if your nasturtium is getting out of control, then it’s best to trim back the tips and undersides of nasturtiums every few days even if it means trimming off flowers that have yet to bloom. This is hard to do but will keep the plant more compact and healthier. If you have too many leaves at expense of blooms, it may be because you are using fertilizer. It’s better to not fertilize them to have plants with good blooms that last longer rather than a crazy, full knockout plant that will only last a few weeks.
Nasturtiums
Aren't nasturtiums vines? My plants are not climbing on the trellis in the pot. Not sure why.
Aren't nasturtiums vines? My plants are not climbing on the trel
It depends upon the type of nasturtiums you are growing. The dwarf varieties grow low to the ground and stay in more of a bunched fashion, growing upwards (Jewel/Alaska varieties) . The trailing type (Tropaeolum majus (Empress/Moonlight/Amazon Jewell varieties)) will either cascade or can be trained to crawl upward onto a fence, border or stand. I hope this helps in some way?
Big beautiful blooming ‘bush’ of nasturtiums
Turned yellow and died in a small garden bed....after Spring. No California sun.
Why? Should I remove from garden bed?
Nasturtiums
If they’ve died completely, they can be removed from the bed. As for what caused them to perish, it’s hard to say without knowing more… What have the weather conditions been like? Dry? Wet? Are other plants growing well in the same soil?
Nasturtiums
Will they grow in clay in central VA
planting nasturtium in zone 8
My nasturtiums are not growing. Small leaves, no flowers. They are in sandy soil.
Nasturtium not flowering
Can i use mono potassium phosphate to force my nasturtiums to force for blooming . As by mistake I have put fertiliser to nasturtiums
mono potassium phosphate
This is an eco-friendly fertilizer and your plants should benefit from it, if applied as directed on the package.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium grows fast in my small pot. Sunny climate in India. Temperature is rising now. Average 12-14 degrees C. Put water in afternoon.( 4-5 p.m).
nasturtiums rising
Sounds like ideal conditions are in your favor!
Nasturtium
I have seen germination of Nasturtium seeds . It will grow in my flower pot. It's December. I cherish to see saplings now. Hope to give flowers in due time.
Nasturtiums
I buy packets of nasturtium seed showing a variety of colours but only ever get orange and yellow flowers. What is the cause of this?
Nasturtium leaves
Our nasturtiums bloom profusely, but the leaves are large and taller than the flowers. The leaves cover up almost all of the flowers. We would have to cut off the leaves to see the blooms. Is this because our soil is too rich or has too much nitrogen? Thanks in advance !
Ron and Gloria
nasturtiums flowers lost in leaves
Shade reduces the number of blossoms and increases leaf size (and reach). It may also be due to too-moist soil.
Nasturtiums in the Fall
It is the end of September, do I need to pull my plants out or do I just leave them alone for next year? Will they die back over the winter?
nasturtiums in fall
Nasturtiums are annuals. They will die with the first frost—and not comeback.
nasturtiums in fall
Nasturtiums are annuals. They will die with the first frost—and not comeback.
Nasturtiums not making seeds?
I have a few beautiful Nasturtium plants in handling pots..growing OK…lots of leaves and beautiful flowers…however, after each bloom…I am waiting for the seed pods…and they are NOT making seeds for some reason…never happened before???…Does every bloom/flower make a seed?…only some?…more toward the end of the blooming period?..what can I do or expect?..Thank you, Anthony Vento Brooklyn, NY
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