How To Grow Nasturtium Flowers From Seed
Nasturtium may not be on the top of your grow list but I LOVE them. The trailing varieties spread out and around other flowers keeping the weeds at bay and creating a bit of a messy cottage garden look. Compact varieties do really well in pots and hanging baskets.
The entire plant can be eaten... seeds, leaves and flowers! The edible flowers go well in salads or chopped and put in butter. Unripened seeds can be pickled and made into a "poor mans capers". The leaves are edible and can be made into nasturtium leaf pesto (recipes coming).
Nasturtium plants are very easy to care for and low maintenance, they just do their thing and that's another reason why I love them!
Germination Tips
- Seeds can be sown spring, summer and autumn (spring only for cool).
- Soaking seeds overnight will help speed up germination.
- They can be direct sown as quite large seeds or raised as seedling.
- Darkness is needed for germination, sow 1.5cm deep and will take around 7-14 days @ 16-18 degrees.
- If raising seedlings, harden off before planting in the ground around 5-6 weeks. Do this by putting the seedling outside for a few hours on the first day, gradually working up to a full day to prevent any transplant shock.
- Choose a sunny or part shaded spot in the garden.
- Plant 20-30cm apart.
- They will do best in well draining soil.
Harvesting Tips
- From seed to bloom takes 55-65 days.
- Harvest when the flowers are fully open.
- If left the plant will self seed well.
- You can save the seeds when ripe and brown.
We have quite the range of nasturtiums from milkmaid to purple emperor that continues to grow! Shop nasturtium seeds here.
