Old-fashioned nasturtiums never go out of style
Nasturtiums have been grown in gardens for centuries. The Incas planted them as vegetables and as medicinal herbs. King Louis XIV displayed them in the palace flower beds. Monet grew them at Giverny. Thomas Jefferson sowed seeds of nasturtiums in the vegetable gardens at Monticello. And they belong in your garden, too.
Planting and care
Nasturtiums are some of the easiest flowers to grow from seeds. Their seeds are large and easy to handle. Kids can help plant them 10 to 12 inches apart and about 1/2 inch deep in loose, well-drained, ordinary garden soil. No fertilizer is required. Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear.
They grow best in full sun but will perform satisfactorily in part shade. They will just produce fewer flowers.
Caring for nasturtiums is easy. Water them regularly throughout the summer if rainfall is insufficient. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. If they become unruly, just cut them back and fresh, new growth will quickly follow.
Varieties to grow
The most difficult part of growing nasturtiums is deciding which varieties to grow. The two most common groups of nasturtiums are a trailing type that can be trained to climb and a bush type. Nasturtium flowers are available in bold, bright hues of red, pink, orange and gold and soft shades of yellow, rose and salmon. They all have their characteristic cute-as-a-button leaves that resemble tiny lily pads.
Alaska Mix boasts a lovely blend of single flowers in gold, orange, salmon, crimson and cherry red over variegated foliage. They grow just 10 to 12 inches tall. These would be pretty adding color to the edge of a vegetable garden.
Amazon Jewel shows off dramatic deep red, pumpkin orange, golden and lemon yellow and rose blooms over variegated foliage on vining plants. Train these up a trellis or let them dangle over the edge of a large container garden.
The double flowers of Cherries Jubilee are colored in deep to light shades of rose. This mounding nasturtium would be lovely combined with light pink cosmos, blue salvia, yellow million bells and purple fountain grass in a summer container garden.
Creamsicle is the perfect name for this nasturtium with orange creamsicle-colored blossoms. Partner this mounder with rich reds if you like your containers hot; clear yellows if you prefer the softer side of container design.
Empress of India is a mounding heirloom with bright vermilion red flowers. Moonlight is a vining type that sports soft yellow blooms. Another trailing type, Spitfire, displays fiery orange blossoms.
Eating nasturtiums
The leaves and flowers of nasturtiums are edible. For the best flavor, harvest flowers and young leaves in the morning. Make sure they are washed thoroughly before using — you don't want to find an insect in your salad! If not used immediately, they can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Their peppery taste is a welcome addition to salads and soups. Both leaves and flowers can be stuffed with egg or chicken salad or a soft cheese. Chop some with chives and add them to omelets or your favorite recipe for potato salad.
Nasturtiums are beautiful in the garden or in containers. They fall gracefully over walls and ramble over the edges of hanging baskets or window boxes. Nasturtiums climb up trellises and offer a pop of color to vegetable gardens. And they are delicious. Head to your favorite local garden center today to pick up a few packs of nasturtium seeds.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.