Capucine

Plant Description

Nasturtium is a vibrant, easy-to-grow flowering plant that adds a pop of color to gardens while serving multiple purposes. With its rounded, shield-like leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in warm hues of red, orange, and yellow, this fast-growing plant can sprawl, climb, or trail, depending on the variety.

Beyond its ornamental beauty, Nasturtium is valued for its edible flowers and leaves, which have a peppery, watercress-like flavor. It also plays a role in pest management, attracting beneficial insects while repelling certain garden pests.

Quick Facts

  • Sunlight: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade (best blooming occurs in full sun).
  • Days to Sprout: 10–14 days (soaking seeds overnight can speed up germination).
  • Days to Bloom: 35–50 days from seed.
  • Plant Spacing: 8–12 inches for bush types; trailing types need more space.
  • Seeds per Hole: 2 seed per planting hole.
  • Plant Type: Annual (self-seeds easily, returning year after year in warm climates).
  • Planting Depth: ½ inch deep (bury seeds lightly).

Best Planting Locations

  • Garden Borders & Flower Beds: Bush-type Nasturtiums add a bright, compact burst of color that complements vegetable gardens and cottage-style flower beds.
  • Containers & Hanging Baskets: Nasturtiums thrive in pots, planters, or hanging baskets, where their trailing vines can spill over attractively.
  • Trellises & Fences: Vining varieties will climb supports, making them perfect for decorative vertical gardening.
  • Companion Planting in Vegetable Gardens: Nasturtiums help repel pests like aphids, whiteflies, and squash bugs, making them excellent companions for many vegetables.

Getting Started

  1. Soak Seeds Before Planting: Soaking Nasturtium seeds overnight improves germination.
  2. Choose Well-Draining Soil: These flowers prefer average, slightly poor soil. Avoid overly rich soil, which can result in excessive foliage at the expense of blooms.
  3. Plant Directly Outdoors: Nasturtiums dislike being transplanted, so sow seeds directly in their final location after the last frost.

Companion / Enemy Plants

Good Companion Plants: Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, brassicas, radishes.

Avoid Planting Near: Potatoes (can compete for nutrients).

Attractants / Repellents

Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Repels: Aphids, squash bugs, and whiteflies.

When to Plant

  • In temperate climates, plant after the last frost.
  • In warm climates, Nasturtiums can be planted in fall for winter blooms.

Maintenance

  • Watering: Water moderately; Nasturtiums prefer dry to slightly moist soil.
  • Fertilizing: Avoid excessive fertilization; too much nitrogen leads to leafy growth with fewer flowers.
  • Pruning: Regularly deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

Harvest

  • Harvest leaves and flowers as needed for culinary use.
  • For seed saving, allow some flowers to mature and dry out, then collect the round, wrinkled seeds.

Uses

  • Culinary: Flowers, leaves, and seeds are edible with a peppery flavor, great for salads, garnishes, and pickling.
  • Companion Planting: Acts as a natural trap crop for aphids, protecting vegetables.
  • Ornamental: Adds vibrant color to garden landscapes.

How to Store

  • Fresh Storage: Store Nasturtium leaves and flowers in a sealed container in the fridge, lined with a damp paper towel.
  • Drying: Hang flowers upside down in a dark, dry place for use in herbal teas and potpourri.
  • Freezing: Leaves can be frozen in ice cube trays with water for later use in soups and dressings.