Nasturtium Flowers

Nasturtium flowers are prized for their beauty as well as their edibility. They grow very easily with little to no real care and can be virtually neglected and still thrive. They can be grown on a garden trellis, in a flower pot or in your garden. Their flowers are very bright and colorful and many enjoy the taste of both the flowers and the seeds.

Planting Nasturtium

Nasturtium should be planted when the weather begins to warm, typically in early to mid-spring depending on your specific location. The seeds for nasturtium flowers should be sown at least ten to fifteen inches apart and no less than one inch deep. Water the seeds immediately after covering with soil and then leave them be. They should not be watered again for ten days. These are very fast growing flowers and be seeded directly into your garden. They tend to thrive even in very poor soil conditions such as dry soils meaning that you can literally plant them anywhere and expect them to grow although you should select a site that offers full sunlight and plenty of drainage.

Caring for Nasturtium Flowers

You can pick nasturtium flowers virtually any time the plants bloom. In fact, picking them makes them bloom for longer time periods. They typically bloom from early spring until late in the autumn season and the reseed themselves as well. It is recommended that you not use fertilizer when caring for nasturtium flowers. Choosing a variety may help you with the care as well. If for instance you are planning to plant them in a flowerbox, the Peach Melba variety is a better option than the Alaska Series which is more of a bushy breed. The Canary Creeper is a vine species and is the perfect choice for those planting the nasturtium flowers to climb a trellis.

How to Harvest

Nasturtium flowers are edible and should be harvested once several leaves grow on the plants. They taste much better when harvested fairly young. Nasturtium flowers are related to the cress family and have a peppery taste. You can also eat the flowers which have a peppery taste as well only not as strong as the leaves. The seeds are edible as well and many find them wonderful for pickling and using as an alternative to capers. Keep in mind that these plants are susceptible to frost so you should plan to harvest before the first frost in your area. If you are still getting blooms when the first frost arrives simply cover them as you would any other plant to protect them from the cold.

Other Points to Consider

Nasturtium flowers are recommended highly as companions for other plants. Because their leaves contain a peppery quality they can help to ward off certain insects which protects all of your plants. They are a very versatile flower and there are many recipes that feature the leaves, flowers and even the seeds. Since they are so easy to grow they make a wonderful garden selection for first-time gardeners and even children.