The nasturtium or tropaeolum are native to South and Central America and have become popular ornamental annuals grown for their showy, often intensely bright flowers. It is an easy and prolific grower and readily self seeds. Often grown alongside vegetables, the nasturtium is also useful as a companion plant. It repels a great many garden pests such as squash bugs, cucumber beetles and several species of caterpillar. Growing Nasturtiums near brassicas can deflect greenfly and white fly on to the nasturtiums to protect your other crops. There are dwarf varieties for use as edging plants, climbing varieties that look great on a back fence in the garden or in pots with trellises, and cascading varieties that are simply wonderful for hanging baskets.
Nasturtiums grow quickly from seed. Sow them straight into the ground by placing the seeds 8-10 inches apart. If you are growing them in containers, sow them a little closer together. They will grow in partial shade, but for the maximum show of flowers, grow them in full sun. However, they don't do so well in drought conditions, so make sure you provide them with plenty of water, especially if growing them in pots.
As well as using them for decorative planting in borders and as cut flowers in arrangements, nasturtiums are edible. The whole plant can be eaten and they have a slightly peppery taste not unlike watercress. They have become a popular choice for salads. Not only do the flowers add decoration to a salad, their peppery taste adds a little spice to the sweeter varieties of lettuce. The seed pods are edible as well and can be treated much like capers and pickled or used as a crunchy addition to salads.
Nasturtium varieties
Nasturtium flowers come in an array of yellow, orange, pink, and red. Nasturtium 'Empress of India' is a stunning variety with deep velvety crimson flowers against dark foliage. 'Strawberries and Cream' is a showy variety with light yellow semi-double flowers, blotched with scarlet. 'Canary Creeper' is a very pretty climber with lots of yellow flowers in summer. It soon covers fences if given something to cling to. 'Orange Troika' is a vigorous trailing nasturtium with a neat compact habit and vibrant orange flowers. 'Double Delight Apricot' has double to semi-double large blooms in stunning, mottled apricot shades. Nasturtium 'Strawberry Ice' has deep yellow, five petalled flowers clearly spotted near the centre with red.
Nasturtiums are easy to grow in garden planters. The trick is not to let them dry out. However, don't feed them or you will find you have plenty of leaves but not many flowers. Nasturtiums make all the food they need through photosynthesis.
Jo Poultney is one of two people behind Garden Planters. I have an RHS general certificate in horticulture. Garden Planters source unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts - whatever your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have something for you. I believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden - they enhance the overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden belongs. If you would like to know more about Garden Planters, visit our website at http://www.gardenplantersshop.co.uk
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