Hot and Spicy (Nasturtiums)

Member Name: queen_rain

Product:	Nasturtiums
Date:	23/01/05 (3798 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Edible, Easy to grow, Colourful

Disadvantages: Caterpillars, Blackfly

With a mass of bright blooms in shades of orange, yellow and red, nasturtiums can turn the dullest garden or window sill into something resembling a a lush, exotic jungle.

What's more, they are easy enogh to grow for beginners, undemanding, and they provide us with fresh, healthy food.

They are annuals, which means they'll flower all summer but then they die. However, I found that in a mildly-heated green house or indoors in a sunny spot they can live and flower through winter.


Nasturtiums grow to around 30cm height; if you give them a trellis to climb up on, they can reach 3m.

There are many varieties, including some which are partiuclarly vigorous climbers; and some which have specific colours, for example, yellow only.

Personally, I like it when they cross-pollinate, which leads to lots of different shades and shapes, and I adore them all.


WHERE TO GROW

Nasturtiums look great at the front of a flower-border. Because of their trailing habit, they are spectacular for containers and hanging baskets. They also flourish on a window sill.

The one thing nasturtiums are fussy about is sunshine. They need light; the more the better. They'll grow in shade, but won't give many flowers.


They ask for nothing else. They don't want manure, fertiliser, lime or any of the treats other plants demand. Indeed, the poorer the soil, the more they'll flourish.

I like t plant them in the compost of last year's growbags, where the tomatoes have already sucked out all nutrients. Nasturtiums will love it.





HOW TO SOW THEM

I don't recommend buying plants, because they are so easy to grow from seed. Buy a packet, or beg some seeds from a neighbour.

In spring, put the seeds into pots or seedtrays on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. When the danger of frost has passed (date varies depending on where you live, but usually May), plant them where you want them to grow.

You can also plant the seeds in autumn; then they will flower earlier the next year.

Alternatively, just put the seed in the ground where you want them to grow, in early summer.


SAVING SEEDS


I'm always surprised how expensive nasturtium seeds are in the shops: I've seen them pricedup to £3.90 for 10 seeds.

I'll let you into my secret: I bought one packet of seeds ten years ago - and never purchased another one. Instead, I let my plants produce the seeds.

Every flower, if visited by pollinating insects, will produce about three seeds - unless of course you eat the flower first.

Since each plant produces dozens or hundreds of flowers in the course of summer, that's potentially a lot of seed.

Pick them when they are big, round and ripe and come off easily. Put them on a plate or in a shallow bowl anywhere in your home until they're dry. During the drying process they'll shrivel to a fraction of their original size, but that's no problem. Once dry, store them in envelopes or containers.

In my experience, almost all hand-gathered seeds pollinate. So if you collect your nasturtium seeds, you can also provide your friends and neighbours with seed.

If you sow your own-harvest seed, you may find that the number of colours and varieties increases every year, because the bees have been visiting other gardens, too.

TROUBLE SHOOTING

1. Caterpillars! These are the nasturtium's enemies. It's the pretty cabbage white butterflies that lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. The eggs hatch caterpillars, who can devour a whole plant within days.

Chasing the butterflies away won't help, they'll just come again. Pesticides are effective, but don't last long, so you'd have to repeat them, and they can harm the pollinating insects. Picking off caterpillars by hand is better, but I don't enjoy it.


My solution: on days when cabbage whites flutter around your plants, inspect your nasturtiums and pick off the leaves which have clusters of tiny yellow eggs on their underside, before they have a chance to hatch.


2. Blackfly! This tiny insect, an aphid, appears in masses of hundreds. They usually sit on or near the stem. Insecticides are very effective; but please spray in the evening, when the bees and other friendly insects have gone to bed.

Better still, wash the plants with soapy water. Any soap will do, it doesn't have to be a special insecticide soap. I've heard that diluted washing up liquid also works. A spray bottle works best. A small quantity of soap won't harm the soil, but you can always place a towel on the ground to soak up the dripping water.


Don't plant your nasturtiums near broad beans, which are also prone to blackfly, or the beasties will think you've opened a restaurant for them.



3. Lots of leaves, few flowers! Move them to a sunnier place, or put them on a stricter diet. Remember, they don't like rich soil or fertiliser.



HOW TO EAT THEM


The flowers are delicious - quite peppery. Strangely, some blossoms taste mild and others very hot, even when they come from the same variety. I use them a lot as garnish, and on top of green salads, where the colouor contrast is most effective.

The dark green leaves are too peppery to eat on their own, but they add spice to tossed salads, especially with tomatoes. Use only the young leves, they taste best. You can also add leaves to stewes and casseroles, but I don't normally bother. I like edibles which don't require cooking.

The seeds are also edible. You can pickle them; apparently they taste like capers. I haven't tried this because I'm not keen on capers.



MY FAVOURITE FLOWER


Every year, I grow lots of nasturtiums and plant them not only in the garden, but in my little greenhouse. On chilly, rainy days I sit in my folding chair in the greenhouse, surrounded by a jungle of brightly coloured, climbing blossoms. I'll read a book, or write a book, or just daydream.
Sometimes I mix myself an exotic fruit drink and enjoy having a tropical holiday in rainy Britain.

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