Nasturtiums on my mind

Elisabeth — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:44:00 GMT

Even as the grape hyacinths come into bloom and the last of the daffodils open up in my yard, I, like other gardeners am thinking ahead. That's why I am planting nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) seeds. The closest that many people get to nasturtiums is seeing them as part of the packaged "edible flower mixes" sold in the specialty produce sections of many supermarkets. The flowers taste peppery and are good in salads, but I think they lend even more spice to the summer garden.

The blooms have five petals apiece (double-flowered varieties are also widely available) and are vaguely trumpet shaped. They grow profusely and stay close to the rounded green leaves. My favorite nasturtiums are the old-fashioned ground hugging varieties that are great for the front of the border, flourish in pots and make a colorful edging for vegetable or herb gardens. I am especially fond of 'Peach Melba', a cultivar with cream petals and a red throat. This year I may try one of the climbing varieties as well.

Nasturtiums have big, pea-like seeds that are easy to handle. Soak them in water for about eight hours before planting to loosen the hard outer covering.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about nasturtiums is that they absolutely love lean soil and don't mind drought. Put them in rich soil and overfertilize and you will get an exuberant crop of leaves but few flowers. But if you plant them in sunny space, water until they are established and pretty much forget about them thereafter, they will generally reward you with lots of flowers. Pick a few for a salad, but enjoy the rest in the garden. Nasturtiums are about as close as most of us will get to a horticultural free lunch.

In Praise of Nasturtium

Elisabeth — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:29:00 GMT

Whether your garden is a series of containers or a multi-acre spread, annual nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are a must-have. They are beautiful to look at, easy to care for, drought tolerant and even edible. What more could you ask?

Most nasturtiums have a low, mounding habit, with five-petaled flowers in colors ranging from white and shades of cream and pale yellow to orange and darkest red. Many have contrasting streaks or blotches. The flowers compliment the shield-shaped, bluish green leaves.

Last summer I combined two antique varieties, the white 'Milkmaid' and pale yellow 'Moonlight' with the flashier 'Peach Melba', which is yellow with red markings. Positioned in the front of the border and spilling out onto a walkway, the nasturtiums were a triumph. Once they were established they never needed supplemental water and they bloomed from late spring until frost killed them late in the fall.

Climbing or trailing nasturtiums make a good choice for tuteurs, arbors or large pots. I like the trailing 'Variegated Queen' mix, which contains flowers in an array of colors, all of which have green and cream variegated leaves.

If you like red flowers, try the scarlet-flowered traditional favorite, 'Empress of India', or the dark red 'Mahogany'.

Nasturtiums, whose seeds can be sown directly in the ground come spring, love poor quality soil and flower better if you don't fertilize them. I mulch around mine, as I do with the rest of my plants, but that's about it as far as maintenance goes.

Supermarkets sometimes stock their produce departments with packaged edible flower mixtures, which almost always contain nasturtiums. Grow pots of nasturtiums by the kitchen door and next summer you can enjoy their peppery taste in salads without depleting your pocketbook.

Growing Wise : nasturtiums

Nasturtiums on my mind

In Praise of Nasturtium