How to Grow Garden Nasturtium (Tropaeolum Majus)

Few plants give as much color and greenery for as little effort as do nasturtiums. These annuals also go by a variety of other names, including Indian cress, canary bird flower or Scottish flamethrower. Plant a few seeds in the ground and they'll spring forth rapidly, covering a relatively large area with gorgeous flowers in a variety of jewel-like colors.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bypass Pruners
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Hand Cultivators
• Mulch
• Plants
• Seeds
• Seeds
• Plants

1. Check out nurseries for seedlings. Most greenhouses carry them.

2. Read labels carefully. Some nasturtiums climb like a vine while others sprawl like a groundcover. Some have plain green leaves while others have leaves with fancy green or light cream markings. Flower colors also vary from cream to rich reds, yellows and golds.

3. 

   Plant seedlings in loose, well-drained soil that also is moisture-retentive. (They don't do well in heavy clay, for example.)

4. Plant seeds outdoors, 12 inches or more apart and about 1/4-inch deep, about one week after your region's last frost date.

5. 

   Keep soil moist but not soggy.

6. 

   Check regularly for aphids, which appear as tiny white blobs on stems and underneath leaves. If they occur, treat immediately with an insecticidal soap - an earth-friendly pest control method.

7. Pull up and discard plants in autumn, once frost has felled the plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Nasturtiums are happiest in full sun (with a little afternoon shade in the South) in average, well-drained soil.
• Nasturtium flower petals are edible. Pluck a few and sprinkle over your next salad.
• Nasturtiums don't like too much fertilizer or soil that's too rich. In these conditions, they'll produce lots of lush growth but few flowers.

on 9/13/2006 The leaves of most Nasturtism are edible as well.