tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolaceae
Nasturtium Family



AKA
Nasturtium
Garden Nasturtium
Indian Cress

Annual

Planting and Care
Easy to plant and grow, Nasturtiums are ideal
for a child's first garden and do best when planted in spring.

Maintenance: In Containers
Once again, nasturtiums don't like growing in containers.
To keep them happy requires daily maintenance.
As each bloom dies, you must pluck it off, and you
will have to remove any yellow leaves.
Large seeds sprout in 7-10 days and are best
sown directly where you want them to grow.

Nasturtiums like average,
well-drained soil in sun to light shade.
Nasturtiums like sun: they flower best in full sunlight.
Don't drown them with kindness.
Be careful not to overwater.

Too much water will produce lots of leaves but no flowers.
They have many thin leaves,
they can dry out quickly, especially in containers.
So keep an eye on them in hot weather.
As usual, stick your finger in the soil to check.
If the soil is wet, DON'T WATER.

Don't worry about fertilizing Nasturtiums either.
Lots of "experts" will tell you not to fertilize nasturtiums
-fertilizer will only promote leaf growth,, and as a result
the blooms will be hidden from view.
Nasturtiums will grow very well
without any fertilizer, and have lots of blossoms.
However, if you do fertilize,
the plants will be a lot bigger, with more blossoms.
Use a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20.

The less care, the better they do!!!!

Companion Planting
Nasturtium are believed to be excellent companion plants.

Their peppery leaves ward off insects.
Among those common pests which nasturtium are believed
to deter are cucumber beetles and squash vine borders.

Nasturtiums are very easy to grow and the seeds
are large and easy for children to handle.
They are pretty, fairly long-lasting flowers and
the young gardener will be proud to make an arrangement
of cut flowers or add them to the family's salad plate.

Hummingbirds insert their long bills into nasturtium flower spurs
to sip the nutritious nectar.
When they do this, they get some pollen on their faces and
then they do the nasturtium's bidding by delivering the pollen
to another flower. sc 4/23/00