Discover the joy of growing nasturtiums, which are a popular and beloved cottage flower. Past generations of gardeners have loved to grow this flower! Their cheerful big blooms and large round green leaves make them hard to resist. I grow mine from seed and enjoy them so much as they are among the first flowers to bloom in my garden each spring. They look especially pretty in my window box on my front porch. If you are unfamiliar with this flower, I encourage you to try it in your garden as it’s so easy to grow. Once the warmer days arrive in my zone 7B/8, this flower fades quickly. It’s a workhorse for me in my spring garden.
Here are a few helpful facts;
· Annual – This flower is a warm season annual for most gardeners. It can be a perennial for those in zones 9-11. A frost will kill this plant.
· Family – Nasturtiums are native to South America and Central America. They belong to the Tropaeolum majus family which includes about 80 different species of perennial herbaceous flower plants. Nasturtiums are related to the mustard and garden cress.
· Edible – The blooms, leaves, and seed pods are edible and can be used in salads. The leaves have a peppery taste like watercress. I like the flavor of the leaves and would compare the taste to arugula.
· Seed Starting – I find these seeds super easy to start. However, they do not like their roots disturbed. I treat these seeds the same as my "cool season" flowers/plants. First I start my seeds indoors by soaking them in water for a few hours to soften the hulls and encourage germination. This is not required– but I do have good germination rates. I started my seeds in large ¾ inch soil blocks, but you could start them in a biodegradable pot. You can direct seed them into your garden after your last frost. These seeds prefer to germinate in darkness so plant your seeds about ½ inch deep so they are completely covered. The ideal germination temperature ranges from 55-65 degrees. I place my nasturtium seed trays on a cookie cooling tray and then on my heat mat so that the seeds get a steady amount of heat. Since air can flow under and around the seed tray it doesn't get too hot. Your seeds should germinate in 7-14 days. As soon as about 50% of my seeds are germinated, I put them under my LED lights. I move my nasturtiums from the lights to my greenhouse as soon as I can. They enjoy the cool days of late winter/early spring.
· Soil – They prefer well-drained soil that is not too rich. For more blooms increase the nitrogen.
· Pollinators - Pollinators love this early bloomer. Rabbits and deer are not particularly attracted to this plant.
· Use - Nasturtiums come in various bloom colors that you can choose from. They are great for filling spaces in your bed or garden as they grow in low mounds and have such large leaves. Some varieties trail downward, so they are visually appealing spilling over the edge of a pot or hanging down from a window box. The seed packet says they can grow up a trellis with support. This sounds lovely to me, and something worth trying next year! And of course, you can add the leaves, blooms, and seed pods to your salad!
· Tip – Buy seeds anytime you see them and place them in an airtight container. I use Ziplock bags. Then place that bag in the refrigerator or freezer for 6 to 8 weeks (or longer). The "faux" winter will help improve the germination rate. I start my seeds 6-8 weeks before my last frost. By doing this I can grow a nice-sized plant that will bloom in March. Also – I think this would be a good seed to start with children because the seed is large and easy for little fingers to grasp. Since the plant grows so quickly, it should provide a quick reward for the child.
· Seed Sources – This year I purchased my seeds at Home Depot. However, you can find these easily online or anyplace that sells seeds.
Happy spring from my garden to yours!
Mary
XOXO