Nasturtium is an annual flowering plant in the genus Tropaeolum, native to South and Central America. The plant is a vining herbaceous perennial with bright, orange, yellow, or red flowers. The leaves are edible and have a peppery flavor. The flowers are also edible, and can be used to give salads and other dishes a peppery flavor. The plant grows best in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Nasturtium is a good choice for container gardening, as it can easily be trained to climb along fences or trellises. The plant is also attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Planning Your Garden With Nasturtiums
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Nasturtiums are annual plants. |
| USDA Zone | Nasturtiums are hardy in USDA Zones 2-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Nasturtiums are generally tolerant of cold temperatures and can survive temperatures as low as 25. |
| Days to harvest | Nasturtiums typically take between 7-14 days to harvest, depending on the variety. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown nasturtium plant is about 12-18 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Nasturtiums prefer a spacing of 8-12 inches between plants. |
| Sun tolerance | Nasturtiums have excellent sun tolerance and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. |
| Shade tolerance | Nasturtiums are considered to be sun-loving plants and prefer full sun to partial shade. They can tolerate some shade, but will flower less in shadier conditions. |
| Water requirements | Nasturtiums need moist soil and regular watering to thrive. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, and water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry. Water deeply and thoroughly, allowing the excess water to drain away. Water in the morning so that the foliage can dry before nightfall. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing nasturtiums depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a light application of a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 should be applied at the time of planting and then again every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season. |
| Soil pH | Nasturtiums prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. |
Why Nasturtiums are Popular
People like to grow nasturtiums because they are easy to grow, they are beautiful, they are edible, and they are a great companion plant. They are also known for deterring pests and attracting beneficial insects.
Companion Plants For Nasturtiums
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for nasturtiums include:
Common Pests For Nasturtiums
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow nasturtiums, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- snails
- slugs
- aphids
- caterpillars
- whiteflies
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
