If you're interested in growing nasturtium from seed and when to plant it, we'll tell you how to manage this generally unpretentious flower and what benefits you can get from it.
Firstly, in addition to its beauty, nasturtiums will help protect cabbage from such serious enemies as whiteflies and cabbage flea beetles. They will also protect potato crops from nematodes, fruit trees from aphids, and cucumbers and roses, which are also often plagued by aphids, should be planted with nasturtium bushes. Furthermore, this southern beauty is as beneficial as lemon, with even more vitamin C, making it an excellent addition to salads.
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So, we've established that nasturtium is beneficial for the garden, edible, beautiful, and a beautiful addition to the garden. Now let's look at how to plant this beauty to get the best results. It's important to remember that nasturtiums are heat-loving and don't tolerate extreme cold. Therefore, when planting, consider your climate and plant them so that the seedlings aren't exposed to frost, which can be fatal. Interestingly, the seeds that self-seed into the soil overwinter beautifully and then germinate on their own. While they bloom late when self-seeding, many people still enjoy this passive, hassle-free method of growing them. Nasturtium seeds can be harvested as they ripen and then planted in the spring. We'll discuss how below.
Planting directly into the ground
This is a good method because the roots of the southern lady are weak and delicate, so planting the seeds directly in the garden is preferable. However, since it is frost-sensitive, it should be planted around the end of May, when there's no chance of frost, as the seedlings are delicate and weak and will die immediately. Place the seeds in holes about 2 cm deep, cover with soil, and make another hole 25-30 cm deeper. To speed germination, soak them in warm water, then wrap them in a damp cloth for 24 hours. Another option is to plant the seeds early, in early May, for example, but cover them well, and uncover them in early June.
Seedling method
The second option will allow you to get flowers earlier: planting nasturtium seedlings. There are some nuances here, too: due to their weak roots, the seeds should be planted in individual containers immediately, without transplanting. You can use peat pots and plant three seeds per pot, or you can use disposable cups, and then when planting, simply carefully remove the bottoms and plant them together. Plant seedlings in April or May; they will bloom about a month after planting in the ground.
Caring for nasturtium
Our beauty is not demanding, she does not need much attention - water in moderation, get rid of weeds, that's all she needs.
AdviceIf you need seeds for propagation, don't remove the spent flower stalks. Keep an eye on the seeds, and remove them promptly to prevent them from self-seeding. If you want profuse flowering, remove spent flower stalks immediately.
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Types of nasturtiums
We've already mentioned that many varieties of this wonderful, beautiful, and useful plant have now been bred. But the most popular is still the large nasturtium. It can grow up to 70 cm tall in a bush, or in its creeping form, produce vines up to 2.5 meters high. Its flowers are bright and eye-catching; in fact, this species is the basis for many hybrids.
• Another good plant is the bush nasturtium, which grows beautifully on erect stems and is widely used to decorate borders.
• Climbing nasturtium is used by many owners of country estates as a decoration for gazebos, terraces, for vertical gardening, in hanging pots hanging from balconies or installed on elevated pots, creating beautiful cascades.
• Terry nasturtium is very popular in its hanging form, used to decorate walls and fences in garden plots. It reproduces well by seed and looks beautiful.
• Nasturtium terrestris, also known as climbing nasturtium, is a beautiful vine and, like its subtropical relative, requires moisture and warmth. This variety can be used anywhere on the property, covering or camouflaging any area, wall, or terrace with a vertical carpet.
Nasturtium varieties
Among the wide variety of this useful and beautiful flower, the following are particularly popular:
• Vesuvius – beautiful, soft salmon-colored flowers with cherry highlights have earned this variety widespread popularity and love. The bushes are not tall, up to 30 cm maximum, the leaves are large, the stem is upright, and they are great for borders or flowerbed edges.
• Terry mixture - the same short, upright bushes, with juicy green leaves and fragrant flowers of different shades, very cheerfully decorate flower beds, and can also be planted in containers on balconies.
• Cherry rose – you can add this variety with its unusual crimson flowers to the previous two and create a riot of colors in the flowerbed.
• Canary liana – produces huge vines, up to 3.5 m, and the flowers are exactly like a canary, and seem to be about to flutter up and fly away.
• Alaska is a bright, beautiful mixture, low, neat bushes, leaves with a wonderful marbled border, large, beautiful, multi-colored flowers.
Considering the diversity of species, the plant's unpretentiousness, beauty, and delicacy, as well as its obvious benefits for other plants in the garden, nasturtium is becoming a top choice for growing in your garden.
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