Nasturtiums are edible annual flowers that thrive on neglect. I have them in my garden bed next to the footpath and they look wonderful without requiring much care.
These tasty and garden-benefiting flowers will brighten your garden with vibrant colors from spring until the first killing frost of fall/autumn.
These easy-to-grow cheerful little flowers are hard at work both above and below the soil. Have these little perks left you wondering how you can grow Nasturtium? Grow some edible, cheerful, hardworking flowers with the tips below.
Planting Location
Nasturtiums are hardy in any soil type or climate as long as they are planted in a sunny location.
You don’t need to be fussy about soil type as these flowers will improve whatever soil type they are planted in. These colorful flowers add nitrogen to the soil and shade the soil so fewer weed seeds can germinate.
Sow Seeds
Although Nasturtiums are not picky about the soil type, you need to break up the soil a little to enable the seeds to germinate. Turn the soil and add 1-2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm) of compost and work it in the soil before sowing seeds.
After all danger of frost has passed in the spring lightly scatter seeds on top of prepared soil. Cover seeds with 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) of soil and water them well. Thin plants to 10-12 inches (25 – 30 cm) apart after they sprout.
You can purchase Nasturtium plants if you want faster results. Set plants out at the same depth they were in in the bedding container, 10-12 inches (25 – 30 cm) apart. Water well.
I purchased it as a plant and it’s growing and self-seeding without much care. When the season starts, you will notice tiny green plants popping up. Then it repeats its cycle all over again.
Plant Size
The mature size of Nasturtiums depends on the variety planted. Dwarf varieties will create a compact mound of about 15-inches (37.5 cm) tall while climbing varieties can reach over 10-feet (3m) long.
All varieties will mature to about 12-14 inches (30 – 35 cm) in width.
After Care
Nasturtiums thrive on neglect if they are fed or watered it will diminish their vibrant color.
Plants can be cut back at any time for eating or for use as cut flowers. Nasturtiums will quickly recover from a severe pruning during the growing season and produce more blooms.
Nasturtiums are self-seeding, so they come back every year. Sometimes I see nasturtiums growing in areas I haven’t planted them. If you simply leave the flowers be you’ll have many Nasturtiums year after year.
You may also be interested in my other article about 5 Edible Flowers With Potential Health Benefits.
Great Garden Companion Plant
Nasturtiums will beautify the garden while keeping squash bugs, cucumber beetles and aphids off of growing vegetable plants. The roots of nasturtiums also increase the nitrogen level in garden soil and help improve plant growth by strengthening plant roots.
Nasturtiums attract aphids which are harmful garden bugs, however, where there are aphids there will be beneficial Lady Bugs and Lacewings. Plus the colorful blooms attract a wide array of pollinators to your garden.
Check out “How To Attract Beneficial Insects To Your Garden” here.
Plant facts
| Genus | Tropaeolum |
| Light | full sun |
| Soil type | clay |
| Soil drainage | well drained |
| Height x Width | 6 ~ 12 x 12 ~ 18 inches (15 ~30 x 30 ~ 45 cm) |
| Flowering seasons | Summer, Fall/Autum |
| Life span | annual |
| Plant hardiness zones | 8 – 10 |
How to Start an Organic Garden
