Nasturtiums
Cheery, fast-growing plants with bright, peppery flowers and leaves. Edible from root to flower, they are a fantastic companion plant and add a zing to salads. Available in bush or trailing varieties.
Nasturtiums seeds
£1.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
April – May, directly where they are to grow once all danger of frost has passed. Indoors in March for earlier flowers.
Plant out
Direct sow outdoors or transplant indoor-sown seedlings after last frost, spacing carefully.
Harvest
June – October, pick flowers and leaves as needed. Seed pods can be harvested green for 'poor man's capers'.
Conditions
Sun
Full sun to partial shade, at least 4-6 hours of direct sun.
Water
Keep consistently moist, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging. Less watering encourages more flowers.
Soil
Poor to moderately fertile, well-draining soil. Rich soil encourages more foliage than flowers.
Spacing
20-30cm for bush varieties, 30-60cm for trailing types. Allow climbers space to sprawl.
Containers
Excellent in pots, hanging baskets, and window boxes, especially trailing varieties. Use a container at least 20cm deep.
Indoors
Can be started indoors for an earlier display, but generally prefer direct sowing.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not required; too much fertiliser promotes leaves over flowers. If soil is very poor, a balanced feed once a month at half strength.
Pruning
Pinch back young plants to encourage bushiness. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming and prevent self-seeding (unless desired).
Harvesting
Snip flowers at the base of their stems and leaves. Pick seed pods when green and plump.
Storage
Flowers and leaves are best used fresh. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for a day or two.
Good companions: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Brassicas, Radishes