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Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Indian cress, Garden nasturtium, Greater Indian-cress
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Nasturtiums have a wonderfully peppery taste. In Latin nasturtium literally means "nose twist." and one of the easiest edible flowers to grow. Uses: Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic.
Planning
Difficulty
Easy
Fruiting time
Spring, Summer
Harvesting
Pick leaves, flowers and seeds when available.
Propagation
Seed
Sowing time best in summer/autumn. For faster sprout, soak seeds in some warm water overnight. Sowing depth should be around 10 - 12 mm.
Special features
Attracts useful insects
Attracting hoverflies, which will destroy aphids. Also often used as a trap plant around vegetables- slugs ans snails love them and you can keep them away from other plants!
Repels harmful insects
Repels aphids.
Crop rotation
Light Feeder
Geography
Origin
Peru, South America
Natural climate
Temperate to warm
Environment
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Soil moisture
Wet
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil PH preference
Acid, Neutral
Frost hardiness
Tender
Uses
Edible
Leaves,Flowers,Seeds.
Notes
Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Personality
Family
Tropaeolaceae
Flower colour
Red, orange and yellow.
Scent
Mild
Problems
Wilt - Infected plants yellow, wilt, and eventually die. Avoid overhead irrigation since these bacteria are easily spread in splashing water. Disinfect any tools used. Bacterial leaf spot - minimized by improving air circulation (thinning out the plants) and by avoiding overhead irrigation. Slugs and snails, Cabbage White butterflies.
Companion plants
Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli
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