How to Germinate Nasturtium Seeds
Prized for their delicate yet colorful blossoms, nasturtium is an annual flower well-suited to garden beds and borders. Nasturtium come in shades of yellow, red and orange and have deep green, round leaves. Nasturtium don't tolerate root disturbance, making them difficult to transplant well. It is still best to germinate them indoors to ensure you have the number of plants you need. Use plantable peat pots for this as they are easily transplanted without any disturbance to the flowers roots. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Nasturtium seeds
- Peat pots
- Soilless potting mix
- Plastic bags
- Spray bottle
- Knife
- Spade
Instructions
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1
Fill plantable peat pots with a moist, soilless potting mixture six weeks before the last expected spring frost in your area. Peat pots are available at nurseries and garden centers and resemble brown cardboard.
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2
Sow two seeds per pot on the surface of the soil. Cover with a half-inch of potting mix and mist with a spray bottle to moisten the surface.
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3
Cover the pot with a plastic bag. Set in a dark room, with the temperature 65 degrees to 70 degrees. Germination takes approximately 10 to 14 days.
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4
Remove the bag once seedlings appear. Move the plants to a sunny window sill in a 70-degree room. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, at all times.
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5
Transplant outside to a full-sun, well-drained garden bed once all danger of frost has passed. Dig planting holes one inch deeper than the height of the peat pot.
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6
Score the sides of the pot with a sharp knife then set in the hole. Fill in with soil until the rim of the pot is covered in a thin layer of soil and then water thoroughly.
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Tips & Warnings
Nasturtium flowers are edible and often used to add a peppery-tasting garnish salads or soups. Use the flowers from your own garden that haven't been treated with chemicals if you plan to eat them.
While nasturtium tolerate partial shade, they may not bloom as profusely.
