photo by Photofarmer

Even young children can manage to plant the large seeds of nasturtiums and watch them grow into Triffid like flowering plants in reds, yellows and oranges.

Tips for Growing Nasturtiums

• Plant the seeds individually in a sunny spot in poor soil straight in to the garden.
• Climbing nasturtiums will spread for several feet or clamber up a near-by support. These are the sort to amuse the kids.
• The dwarf nasturtiums are better behaved and will flower well without any fertilizer.
• Handle the stems with care as they are brittle and easily snapped.
• Nasturtiums are no use as cut flowers but you can pick and eat flowers and leaves.
• Collect the fallen seed for next year. You get 3 big seeds per flower.
• Plants are loved by black fly that may colonise the underside of leaves. Wash off with soapy water or use an insecticide if you are not going to eat them.

One variety you can plant in a hanging basket is Jewel Mixed which adds fragrance to the dwarf trailing habit. Alaska has variegated leaves and two tone flowers. Black velvet is very deep purple that it looks as it says on the packet, black.

Useful Links

BBC Gardeners World – Gardening site of BBC

Royal Horticultural Society

Gardeners Tips a nasturtium bonanza.

Thompson Morgan Seeds to consider buying.

Read about Intensely coloured Nasturtiums and Help Growing Nasturtiums