Nasturtiums - Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums
Hutchinson Farm

Nasturtiums are a short green leaved plant with blossoms that range in colour from red to orange to yellow. These continuous bloomers require no maintenance and will fill any sunny spot in your garden. The edible leaves and blossoms are great in salads.

Nasturtium Varieties

* Whirlybird Cherry Rose
* Whirlybird Gold
* Whirlybird Mahogany
* Whirlybird Tangerine
* Whirlybird Peach Melba
* Empress of India
* Jewel Mix
* Alaska Mix

Nasturtium Care

Light: Nasturtiums like sun: they flower best in full sunlight.

Water: Don't drown them with kindness. Because 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.

Fertilizer: In the Ground
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.
This is a lot of nonsense. Here's the scoop: 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. So there! Use a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 (last year I put manure in my nasturtium bed, and they looked great).

Fertilizer: In Containers
Nasturtiums don't like growing in containers. Because they keep spreading, they will quickly reach the limits of the ability of the container to supply them with all the nutrients they require. As a result you have to help out: Use a half strength solution (about a teaspoon in 2 gallons of water), and fertilize them every two or three days. It's tedious, but necessary.

Maintenance: In the Ground
Leave them alone!

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.

Insects:
Aphids love nasturtiums. There has yet to be a year in which I haven't found aphids on my nasturtiums. This could be a problem in our greenhouse, so we monitor for insects very carefully and take necessary action (in other words, we spray) when required.
Aphids will also appear in your garden, but it isn't a problem. Here's is what I do: Nothing! I have found that nasturtiums grow faster than the aphids can eat them, and sooner or later someone will discover the aphids and eat them up for you! Here's the neatest thing: aphids like nasturtiums better than just about anything else found in your garden -including tomato plants and roses. So, to keep aphids off your roses, plant nasturtiums!