Nasturtiums: Flowers You Can Eat!

VEGETABLES----HERBS----FLOWERS----HABITAT GARDENS ----MINI MEADOWS----GIFT CERTIFICATES

Prized for their sweet-spicy flavor, these mounding heirlooms are among the most widely grown of all edible flowers. With a bit of a peppery tang, Nasturtium blossoms are often added to salads as a zesty garnish, and a sprinkling of colorful Nasturtium blossoms lends the perfect finishing touch to cold Cucumber soup or fresh pineapple sorbet.

We adore the deep blue-green, lily pad-like foliage of Nasturtiums almost as much as their flowers. We use the edible leaves as doilies under cheese platters, cakes and individual soup tureens. They can also be added to salads for a dash of peppery spice.

Nasturtiums flower profusely from early summer until the first fall frost. Mounding/Bush varieties are great for borders, while Climbing/Trailing varieties are suited to window boxes, hanging baskets and trellises. You'll be charmed and amazed at their cheerful colors and vigorous growth.

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Do you know your average last frost date? Find it HERE. Need a refresher on how to direct-sow seeds? Find it HERE.

They're So Easy to Grow!

While you certainly can start Nasturtium seeds indoors, it's easiest to sow them directly into your garden beds in well-draining, loamy soil after the last frost date (find yours HERE.) While they will grow in partial shade, Nasturtiums flower more profusely in full sun, though in hot climates they appreciate a bit of protection from the sun in the hottest part of the day.

Plant the seeds 1" deep, since they require darkness for optimal germination. Keep the bed uniformly moist until the seedlings emerge, about 10 days after sowing. Weed and keep the bed well-watered until the plants are established. Thin or transplant the seedlings to 8" to 12" apart in the garden.

Believe it or not, Nasturtiums perform better in soil that's lean rather than rich. If the plants have easy access to too much Nitrogen, they will produce a sea of foliage and few flowers. Nasturtiums are drought-tolerant, but perform best when moderately watered once established. They flower best with cooler nights. Mounding varieties are wonderful for containers, too!

Choose Mounding or Climbing, and From a Range of Warm Colors

The only difficult part about growing Nasturtiums is choosing which ones to grow. You can choose from among our compact, mounding varieties that range in height from 8" to 24", or our trailing/climbing varieties that can grow up to 5' tall/wide. Mounding/Bush varieties are great for borders and Climbing/Trailing varieties are good for window boxes, hanging baskets and trellises.

Did you know?

If you've ever grown Nasturtiums, you know that watching water droplets bounce and dance and bead up on its leaves is almost as wonderful as enjoying the flowers. You would think that Nasturtiums would be closely related to the Lotus plant, whose leaves are also superhydrophobic, but they're not even remotely related. In fact, Nasturtium leaves are even more hydrophobic than Lotus leaves, and they've inspired scientists at MIT to design better water-repellent fabrics based on their unique leaf structure. Fascinating!

Double Delight Cream Nasturtium

Big, banana-yellow semi-double and double blooms. Height: 12".