The artist Claude Monet grew nasturtiums in his garden in Giverny, France, and their descendants grow today. Tropaeolum, commonly known as nasturtium, is a genus of about 80 species of annual and perennial flowering herbaceous plants. Both the leaves and petals of nasturtium are packed with nutrients, as they contain high levels of vitamin C.
The flowers are a beautiful addition to the top of any salad. Some of my nasturtiums from last year reseeded and have grown back in my garden now in December. Wikipedia Nasturtium plants are easy to grow and can be climbing, cascading or bushy. You probably won't have to feed nasturtiums during the growing season unless you have very poor soil.
Blue nasturtium (Tropaeolum azureum) is a tender species from Chile that has purplish-blue flowers with white eyes that can grow up to 4cm long.
Do nasturtiums come back every year?
Other safe plants that are quite hardy and can recover from damage are African daisy, marigold and nasturtium. Nasturtiums are beautiful and edible, so it can be discouraging when these wonderful flowers don't perform as expected. Shorter varieties of nasturtium bloom earlier than taller ones, as the latter must achieve more vertical growth before producing flowers. Nasturtiums are not only versatile and colourful, they are also easy to grow and thrive with neglect.
After seed germination, nasturtiums take 35 to 52 days to flower, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Trailing nasturtiums are a great choice for growing in a planter or hanging basket, as their vines climb and droop nicely. Fortunately, there are other ways to keep nasturtiums going strong through the winter.
Do nasturtiums like sun or shade?
If they grow in full sun, consider using some rocks around the plants to keep their roots from getting too hot. I've planted fresh nasturtium seeds (bought this season) both in the ground and in pots after all the risk of frost and it's been 2 weeks and nothing has germinated. However, if your nasturtium is getting out of control, it's best to trim the tips and bottoms of the nasturtiums every few days, even if that means trimming off the flowers that haven't yet bloomed. They are also a favorite of pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and their beautiful fragrance makes them a good choice for cut flower gardens.
Dwarf varieties can be planted most effectively in flowerbeds, rock gardens and herb gardens, as well as along the edges of walls. In general, planting nasturtiums in your vegetable garden is a great idea, as they can bolster your crops and provide beautiful bloom. In the case of nasturtiums, it is convenient because you can plant them right where you want them to grow and not have to transplant them.
