Item specifics
Seller Notes: Germination test date and results will be on packet.
Sunlight: Full Sun
USDA Hardiness Zone (°F): 4-10
Climate: Dry, Sub-tropical, Temperate, Tropical
Watering: moist through germination, then drought tolerant
Foliage: annual Soil pH: Neutral
Soil Type: Loam, Peat, Sand
Brand: zellajake
Season of Interest: Summer
If you've been looking for a flower that will thrive in poor soil, doesn't need to be fed or pampered and is almost pest-free, the familiar nasturtium may be it.
An added bonus is that nasturtiums have become the darlings of trendy chefs who value the peppery tang of its flowers, seeds and leaves, which are loaded with Vitamin C.
In most parts of the country, nasturtiums must be planted in the spring, but here in Southern California you can sow the seeds now (late summer or early fall) for color during the cooler days of autumn and winter.
You won't find nasturtiums growing as bedding plants at the nursery. Because the plants dislike being transplanted, you must sow the seeds where you want the plants to grow. Luckily, the knobby seeds are large enough for even a child to handle easily.
Directions usually suggest a location that gets full sun, but I have had good luck growing nasturtiums in spots that receive sun for half a day. They will drape attractively over the edges of a raised flower bed, and will add color to planters and window boxes.
Don't Enrich Soil
You don't have to enrich the soil before planting. If you do, you will have a lot of leaves, but few flowers.
Space the seeds 10 inches apart, and plant half an inch deep. Dwarf varieties called Tom Thumb or Whirlybird should be planted closer together. The dwarfs grow 6 or 7 inches high and make a decorative border. They also will fill in bare spots between bedding plants. The seeds will sprout in about 10 days and will begin to flower in about 10 weeks. Nasturtiums do not require a lot of water.