If you’re looking to add a splash of color and flavor to your garden, nasturtiums are the perfect choice. In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to grow nasturtium from seed in containers.
Nasturtiums are a popular choice for the home gardener because they’re incredibly easy to grow and have such a bright, vibrant color. They come in both annual and perennial varieties and provide an abundant harvest of petals, leaves, and seeds that can be eaten or used in various dishes.
Whether you’re just starting out gardening or looking to enhance your garden with something stunningly colorful, nasturtiums are an excellent choice. Not only do they add a splash of brightness to any outdoor space, but they’re also incredibly beneficial as companion plants.
So if you want to learn more about growing nasturtiums from seed, how well they fare in pots, their numerous health benefits and how best to use them as part of your garden layout – this article is for you. Our Complete Step-by-Step Guide To Growing Nasturtium has all the information you need know about these stunning blooms from planting through harvest so that you can create the perfect outdoor sanctuary full of vibrance and joy.
How To Grow Nasturtium From Seed?
Growing nasturtiums from seed is a straightforward process, and it’s an easy way to add a pop of color to your garden. Nasturtiums are not picky when it comes to soil, but they do prefer sunny spots with well-draining soil. To get started, you’ll need to wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature is between 55° and 65°F (12° and 18°C). You can either direct sow the seeds outdoors or start them indoors in peat pots.
If you choose to direct sow the seeds outdoors, you’ll need to soak them for 12-24 hours in water before planting them about an inch deep in the ground. Make sure that you leave enough space between each seed – about 10 inches apart – as nasturtiums grow quickly and spread fast. After sowing, cover the seeds with soil and water well until germination occurs. Once they have grown two sets of true leaves, you can move them closer together if needed.
Alternatively, if you want to start your nasturtiums indoors in peat pots, you’ll need to bake the soaked seeds at 94°C for 8-10 hours or until they are crisp before planting each one individually in a pot filled with seed substrate rather than potting soil. Place these pots near a bright window so that they get plenty of light but make sure not to overwater as this will cause more foliage than flowers to grow. When all danger of frost has passed and your seedlings have at least two sets of true leaves, transplant them into your garden about 6-12 inches apart in well-draining soil. Water once a week for best results.
Do Nasturtiums Do Well In Pots?
Nasturtiums can do very well in pots, as long as the right conditions are met. Firstly, it is important to use a potting mix without pre-added fertilizer, as too much fertilizer can lead to lots of foliage but with few blooms. Secondly, the pot should have a drainage hole in the bottom to allow for proper water drainage. When planting nasturtiums in pots or boxes, it is best to plant earlier than when planting them directly into the ground and ensure that they are protected from frost. The seeds should be planted about ½ inch (1.27 cm.) deep and one or two seeds per pot should be sown so that they don’t outgrow the container.
When growing nasturtiums in pots, they will benefit from being placed in a slightly shadier spot than when planted directly into the ground as this will protect them from over exposure and drying effects of direct sunlight. Nasturtiums need full sun that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily for best results; however, they can tolerate some shade (three to six hours of sunlight) with reduced blooming potential if grown in a warm climate where hot temperatures may end up browning leaves.
It is important to ensure that your nasturtiums receive enough water but not too much so that the soil becomes waterlogged – if this happens, their roots may rot and cause them to die off prematurely. Container gardening ideas can also be used when growing nasturtiums in pots or boxes for beautiful highlights all around your garden.
What Are The Benefits Of Nasturtium?
Nasturtiums are a popular garden plant that offer a variety of benefits. Not only are they attractive in the landscape, but they also provide a number of nutritional benefits. Their leaves and flowers are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients, including vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron and manganese. This makes them a great addition to any diet as they can help to boost the immune system and provide essential minerals for overall health.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, nasturtiums can also be beneficial in the garden. They are easy to grow from seed and do not require extra fertilizer unless your soil is extremely poor. They will even repel squash beetles while attracting aphids. Nasturtiums prefer full sun with six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flowering; however, they can tolerate poorer soils as well.
Nasturtiums make an excellent choice for children or novice gardeners since the seeds are large and easy to handle. They almost always germinate quickly with minimal effort required on behalf of the gardener. The bright colors of their flowers will add an attractive splash of color to any outdoor space while providing essential vitamins and minerals that can benefit both humans and insects alike.
Finally, nasturtiums offer a range of health benefits due to their high levels of antioxidants as well as other vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and manganese which help support overall health when consumed regularly. In addition to this, they make an excellent choice for beginner gardeners due to their ease of growth from seed with minimal effort required on behalf of the gardener; plus they attract beneficial insects while repelling pests like squash beetles. All these factors combine together making nasturtiums an ideal choice for anyone looking for a nutritious yet beautiful addition to their garden or outdoor space.
What Part Of Nasturtiums Can You Eat?
Nasturtiums are edible plants that can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. The leaves, stems, blossoms, and flowers can all be eaten. To get the most out of this plant, it’s best to pick a few leaves, buds, or blooms at various times during the growing season. These parts can then be used as a garnish atop savory dishes or confections or tossed into salads. They can also be pickled or stir-fried for added flavor.
In addition to eating nasturtiums on their own, they can also be blended into butter or soft cheese for an added spicy flavor. The petals and leaves of nasturtiums are also great additions to oils, dressings or vinegars as they provide a unique flavor and texture to any dish. Nasturtiums are also good companion plants for beans, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, kale melon pumpkin and radish so they can easily fit into any garden space without taking up too much room.
When planting nasturtiums it’s important to clear the area of weeds first and then rake the surface to create a fine crumbly texture before sowing seeds about 1/2 inch deep (1 cm) and 10-12 inches apart (25-30 cm). After planting it’s important to water thoroughly in order to ensure successful growth of these edible plants. With proper care these plants will thrive in any garden space providing delicious ingredients for many dishes throughout the growing season.
Are Nasturtiums A Good Companion Plant?
Nasturtiums are an excellent companion plant for many vegetables. They can help improve the flavor and growth of cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash, and zucchinis. In particular, they make a great trap crop for aphids. Furthermore, nasturtiums are also beneficial when planted alongside broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and radishes. Their bright flowers add a splash of color to any garden while providing natural pest control.
Nasturtiums have several benefits that make them an ideal companion plant for other vegetables. First of all, their leaves contain mustard oils that act as a natural pesticide against pests such as aphids and caterpillars. This helps protect other plants from being eaten by these pests. Secondly, nasturtiums produce nitrogen-rich foliage which helps improve soil fertility and encourages healthy growth in other plants around them. Finally, they attract pollinators like bees which help to increase the yields of nearby vegetables as well as adding beauty to your garden with their bright flowers.
In addition to providing natural pest control and improving soil fertility with their nitrogen-rich foliage; nasturtiums can also provide shade for other plants in hot weather or act as a living mulch in dry climates by helping retain moisture in the soil around them. This is especially beneficial when planting heat-sensitive crops like lettuce or tomatoes which need some extra protection from the sun during hot summer days. Nasturtiums’ sprawling vines can also be used to create living fences or trellises for climbing plants such as beans or cucumbers which need support while growing vertically up towards the sun’s rays.
Overall; nasturtiums are an excellent companion plant that provides many benefits for your vegetable garden including natural pest control; improved soil fertility; shade; living mulch; and support for climbing crops such as beans or cucumbers among others. Not only do they provide these benefits but they also add beauty with their colorful flowers making them an ideal choice when planning out your vegetable garden this season.