How To Grow Nasturtium Seeds

HISTORY

Native to Peru, nasturtium was used by the ancient Inca as a leafy green and medicinal herb. Brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 15th-16th centuries.

USES

• Popular edible flower with delicious spicy flavor. You can eat the leaves and blooms, and the young green seed pods can be pickled into mock capers.
• Great for beds, borders, containers, window boxes, cottage garden, kitchen garden or interplanted in vegetable gardens.
• Visited by hummingbirds, bees and other pollinating insects.

• Soak seeds overnight in warm water before planting.
• Seeds germinate in 7-10 days.
• Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before last frost date or direct seed after last chance of frost has passed.
• Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep.
• Ideal germination temperature is 55-65 F.

• Plants prefer full sun but will tolerate some light shade.
• Provide well-drained soil and do not fertilize or plant in overly rich soil.
• Plants are fairly drought tolerant will grow in a range of soil, including low- fertility soil, provided that it is well drained.
• Space plants 8-12 inches apart.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Aphids can be a pest for nasturtiums. Treat with organic approved insecticidal soap.
• To prevent wilt and bacterial leaf spot, provide adequate air circulation and do not water the foliage..

• Nasturtiums will often reseed, but to save seeds, allow them to mature and fall to the ground.
• Collect them and store in a cool, dark, dry place over the winter.