Nasturtium terry high. Nasturtium growing from seeds, when should I plant? Place for planting nasturtium in the garden

Nasturtium appeared in Europe thanks to the Jesuit monks in the middle of the 16th century, and already in the 18th century, Europeans knew not only about the excellent decorative, but also about the excellent taste and medicinal properties of this plant. The name comes from the Latin word for ‘small trophy’ because of the helmet-like shape of some parts of the flower.

The name capuchin took root in Germany: the peculiar shape of the spur served as the basis for this. Hood and capuchin are brothers. In our gardens, it appeared simultaneously with potatoes and corn, has long been the leader in popularity among garden flowers for many decades. Nasturtium delighted our grandmothers and great-grandmothers with its own. She is bred with pleasure in the flowerbeds of kindergartens and schools, because it is an unpretentious flower, so care is not difficult and is minimized, even for a schoolchild.

Nasturtium - a bright palette of colors in your garden

Nasturtium, capuchin (Tropaeolum) - about 90 species of herbaceous perennial plants belong to this genus, native to Central and South America, the Mediterranean. Plants are unpretentious, with magnificent flowers of various shades from yellow to red, grown as annuals in the form of compact bushes or lianas. The stem is creeping or winding up to 3 m long. The root system is rod, located in the upper layers of the soil.

The leaves are large, alternate, thyroid or palmate, juicy on long petioles, green or red. The flowers are large, solitary, bisexual, on long stalks, located in the axils of the leaves. Blooms from late June until the first frost. The fruit is three-celled, consists of one-seeded fruitlets with a bumpy surface and a spongy light yellow-green shell.

Growing and caring for nasturtium outdoors

Nasturtiums are grown outdoors in pots, flower beds, and flower beds. Curly and creeping species - in hanging baskets, on supports. It grows very quickly - a nasturtium hedge serves as an excellent screen all summer. Prefers well-drained areas, loamy soils.

On overfertilized lands, it develops powerful stems and leaves to the detriment of flowering. During flowering, regular watering is required. With a lack of moisture, it grows poorly, does not bloom for a long time. Feed every 3 weeks with a moderate amount of complex mineral fertilizers. The culture does not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers, lime, excess nitrogen fertilizers, and waterlogging.

Wilted, damaged and diseased flowers are removed in a timely manner. This stimulates the formation of new buds. Not resistant to low temperatures: flowers can not stand even light frosts.

Growing nasturtium from seeds When to plant in the ground and seedlings

Nasturtium seeds photo

Planting nasturtium seeds in the ground

Annual species are grown from seed. They can be sown in open and protected ground from the end of March to the beginning of April. A bed is prepared, loosening the ground well and filling the furrows after 20-25 cm. Rather large nasturtium seeds are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm and the furrows are closed with the back of the rake. The distance between the seeds should be at least 8-10 cm in order to get full-fledged seedlings for planting in a permanent place.

After sowing, it will not be superfluous to cover the bed with a film, placing arcs, or to build an earthen rampart around the perimeter, pressing the film with a stone or brick to the ground. When shoots appear, it will be necessary to ensure that the temperature inside the greenhouse does not rise above 25 ° C, water it in time. Because high temperatures, burning sunlight and lack of moisture are no less destructive than negative temperatures. When warm days come, the film is removed during the day, protecting the plants only at night in case of sudden frosts.

You can plant nasturtium in the ground immediately in a permanent place, hoping that the distance between the bushes should be left decent: about 40-50 cm. Do not spare the place, otherwise the plants will oppress each other, become underdeveloped and little decorative. Planting nasturtium in open ground immediately in a flower bed is carried out only when the night frosts recede: the seeds will quickly sprout and will be damaged by frost if they are not protected. Depending on the region, this may be the end of May - the beginning of June.

Growing nasturtium from seeds for seedlings at home

Nasturtium seedlings are sown with the onset of April 1-2 seeds in peat pots or tablets. You can use loose soil for flowering plants by filling them with ordinary seedling cups. The embedment depth is 1 cm. After planting, be sure to water it, put the cups on the south window, where there will be enough light and heat. You can cover the seeds with a film to create greenhouse conditions, but when shoots appear, it should be removed. Shoots appear in 10-12 days. If two seeds were planted, a more powerful sprout is chosen, and a weak plant is cut off. The grown plants are planted in May in fertile, well loosened and watered soil, without disturbing the earthen coma, at a distance of 40-50 cm.

Curly varieties can be planted a little more often - up to 35 cm, but this is if they grow on a vertical support. Seeds previously soaked during the day are sown directly in open ground from mid-May. Cooling is detrimental to nasturtium, so it is better to cover the plants for the first time with a film or non-woven material.

How to collect nasturtium seeds

Nasturtium usually produces abundant self-seeding, which, under favorable conditions, will germinate the next year. Seeds are harvested after flowering, they remain viable for at least 4 years. They are removed from the most liked copies. Mature are brown in color. After harvesting, they are dried and stored in paper bags. Perennial species are planted in spring (5-7 plants per 30-45 cm container at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other) and put on a well-lit windowsill.

Wintering of perennial nasturtium and storage of tubers

In autumn, the bushes are cut to the ground. And in a cold climate, the tubers are dug up and stored in a cool place in a box with dry peat.

Perennial species are propagated by division of tubers in March. After that, they are laid out for germination or immediately planted in pots with nutrient soil, and after the onset of warm days they are taken out into the street. Perennial species of this tropical beauty have just begun to conquer the market, while they are little known.

Reproduction of nasturtium cuttings

Nasturtium can be cutting. This method is used when breeding terry varieties. The cuttings are rooted in wet sand or a glass of water, after being treated with root. They plant 1 cutting in a cup; when transplanted into open ground, they do not disturb the earthen coma. The main method of reproduction of nasturtium is still seed. It is the simplest, most accessible, used everywhere.

Pests and diseases

It is affected by gray rot, rot, mosaic. If changes are found in the form of a mosaic pattern, withering of the lower leaves, small brown spots, the damaged parts of the plant should be removed.

It will not be superfluous to additionally process the landings with special preparations. Usually, diseases actively develop in wet weather and in dense, poorly ventilated plantings. Observe the recommended sowing distance. This is one of those cases when it is better to plant less often, and then many diseases will not be terrible for your flower garden.

Nasturtiums are aphids, spider mites and cruciferous flea. To combat them, you can use chemicals. If you eat the plant, use folk methods - daily pollination of plants with a mixture of ash and tobacco dust or spraying with vinegar (1 cup of 9% vinegar or 2 tablespoons of vinegar essence in a bucket of water). Ash can be scattered around the bushes.

Nasturtium helps to increase the yield of vegetables. She distracts insect pests, who willingly choose capuchins to lay their eggs. Therefore, growing nasturtium near the beds with vegetables, you will protect them from the whitefly, cabbage butterfly, Colorado potato beetle. You can combine plantings by placing nasturtium mixed with vegetable crops or making decorative curtains out of it. Nasturtium is one of the most sought after flowers by many gardeners. It is unpretentious, blooms for a long time and pleases the eye with a magnificent outfit, serves as protection against many insects.

Useful properties of nasturtium

Nasturtium is successfully used by traditional medicine to dilate blood vessels, to improve the blood supply to the heart muscle, as an antitussive, as an antiseptic for diseases of the genitourinary system, as a normalizing metabolic process. It is useful for older people. Due to the content of carotene and sulfur in it, which are preventive substances in sclerosis. It is used in food as a source of vitamins, increasing the biological value of ordinary dishes.

Leaves, buds, flowers, and unripe fruits have a pleasant, pungent taste reminiscent of watercress. Leaves and flowers are used in salads, sandwiches, soups, sauces, side dishes. Unripe fruits, buds are pickled separately or mixed with other vegetables. An unpretentious flower has long won the hearts of amateur gardeners. It does not require special care, it grows quickly and blooms for a long time, it can turn even the most dull corners of the garden into a colorful landscape.

The variety of colors, the availability of planting material will satisfy the needs of any gardener. forms serve as an excellent decoration for hedges, courtyard buildings, as well as those places that need to be hidden from prying eyes. Bush forms are suitable for decorating flower beds, borders, mixborders. According to the complexity of breeding, it is available to the most inexperienced flower growers. Planting and caring for nasturtium can be entrusted even to a child.

Types of nasturtium with description and photo

There are varieties of nasturtiums with bush and climbing forms, with simple, double, semi-double flowers. There are variegated varieties. It is used as a decorative flower culture for carpet plantings, for vertical gardening. Leaves, buds, unripe fruits are used as an aromatic additive in cooking.

Large nasturtium Tropaeolum majus

Annual, curly, ascending appearance. It is characterized by shield-shaped light green, red or yellow flowers with a spur. The leaves are long-petiolate, rounded, unequal, green or with a purple tint. Most often, a variety of ‘Glim’ is bred with semi-double flowers, painted in orange tones. On the basis of this species, many varieties bred in household plots have been bred.

Nasturtium foreign Tropaeolum peregrinum

A climbing nasturtium from the Canary Islands, a perennial form with irregular yellow flowers with a fringed margin and shield-like leaves. If the winter is warm, it winters well in open ground.

Tuberous nasturtium Tropaeolum tuberosum

Tuberous climbing plant with bluish-green five-lobed leaves, which is grown in the mountainous regions of Peru, Chile, Bolivia. In the absence of support, it forms a soil cover. It has large pear-shaped tubers and is an important starch product.

It has been cultivated since ancient times by the Indians. Yellow-orange flowers 4-5 cm long with a red spur appear later than in other species. The tubers are large, yellow with a marbled pattern. Cultivated as an annual. In autumn, the tubers are removed from the ground, aired in the open air, and stored like dahlias.

In the warm climate of South America, where nasturtium comes from, these plants are often grown as perennials, producing lush flower caps almost all year round. But neither powerful stems nor fleshy roots can survive Russian winters.

Therefore, the culture is well known to domestic gardeners as a spectacular annual, pleasing with flowering almost throughout the summer. The first buds, planting which with seeds or seedlings is not so difficult even for a beginner grower, appear in mid-June or July, and the last flowers under a wave of autumn frosts.

In order for the plant to give green mass earlier and enter the flowering time, it is necessary:

• correctly select a landing site for nasturtium;
• provide seedlings with proper care, including watering and fertilizing;
• protect stems, flowers and leaves from pests and diseases.

Much depends on the planting material.

Common types of nasturtiums are propagated by seeds that mature in temperate climates and can be used for sowing in the next season.

Place for planting nasturtium in the garden

Both bush and climbing forms of nasturtium prefer light, well-aerated soils with moderate nutrient content and little acidity. Nasturtium in the garden, planted on depleted soils, is easy to distinguish by elongated internodes, small leaves and corollas of flowers.

The high density of organic-rich soil can play a trick on the grower. Not only will the seeds experience serious difficulties with germination, but the young plant will begin to "fatten", giving a lot of foliage, not flowers. If the soil with a high content of clay or black earth is also excessively moistened, the roots of the nasturtium quickly rot and the plant dies.

The best choice of site for planting nasturtium is sandy loam or loam with good drainage, regular watering and top dressing, if necessary.

There is a famous saying about "warm feet and cold head". Nasturtium is the opposite. With all the love of this culture for warmth and light, it is important to choose a place so that the roots of the plant are shaded. But the foliage and flowers that are in the sun will be able to express themselves in full force, especially if they are protected from the wind and possible frosts.

With the role of a support for climbing and climbing species of nasturtium, a trellis, a garden fence or a backyard wall will do just fine. Bush forms are good in flowerbeds, and ampelous ones - in hanging planters or decorative flowerpots.

Ways to plant nasturtium

There are three main ways to plant and grow nasturtiums:

• Obtaining nasturtium from seeds simplifies the process of plant acclimatization, seedlings take root in warm soil without problems and grow actively.
• The seedling method of planting a crop allows you to bring flowering closer and make it longer, but there is a risk of losing seedlings after being transferred to the soil.
• With the help of cuttings that quickly take root in wet sand or water and are ready for planting in a permanent place in the garden. This method is indispensable when it is not possible to obtain seeds of an exotic species or a new variety.

In addition, some types of nasturtium form tubers suitable for winter storage at temperatures close to zero and spring planting in the ground.

Growing nasturtium from seeds

Most types of cultivated nasturtium can be grown from seed, bypassing the seedling stage. This method saves a lot of time and effort. Nasturtium, the cultivation and care of which begins with seeds, initially develops in open ground and does not get sick. The only negative is that it will be possible to see blooming nasturtium in the garden only by the middle of summer.

And sometimes gardeners complain that the seeds do not want to hatch at all. This may happen due to:

• low quality or immaturity of the seeds themselves;
• too cold soil at the time of planting nasturtium;
• excess moisture in the soil;
• strong deepening of seeds;
• high soil density in the place chosen for nasturtium.

In order not to encounter these troubles, before sowing, the seeds are dipped in water from 40 to 50 ° C for a quarter of an hour and then soaked for another day. This activates the sprout and softens the dense surface peel.

Nasturtium planting is carried out in May, only in sufficiently warm soil. In holes located at a distance of 20–30 cm, two or three seeds are lowered to a depth of 2 cm.

Nasturtium seedlings do not tolerate cold snaps and need to be protected during frosts with shelters made of film or non-woven material. The same technique, as well as watering with warm water, will make the plants develop faster.

Planting nasturtium seedlings for early flowering

The main danger of the seedling method of growing nasturtium is the risk of damage to the rather juicy and brittle roots of the plant, so the seeds are sown in separate containers to avoid picking and transfer to the ground along with an earthy clod.

Even better if for planting nasturtiums or pots.

• Sowing in April or early May is carried out to a depth of not only 2 cm, 2-3 seeds per hole.
• Landings need to provide an air temperature of about +22 ° C.
• When shoots appear in two weeks, the temperature is slightly lowered to +18 ° C and good lighting is organized for the sprouts.

You can move the plants to the garden if the threat of frost has passed. Most often this happens by mid-May, less often - in June. If, after planting, bad weather or cool nights await the nasturtium, it is better to protect the plantation with covering material.

And the gardener will be able to take the first photos of nasturtium flowers a month or a half after planting the seedlings in the ground. The flowering will end only with the onset of stable cold weather.

Growing and caring for nasturtium during the summer

Caring for nasturtiums during the summer months is not difficult at all. The plant requires only regular but moderate watering and removal of weeds in the root zone. If you take care of the mulching of the loosened soil in advance, then both mandatory measures are greatly simplified and are required less frequently.

The mode and method of watering for nasturtiums is chosen so that the moisture does not stagnate and does not remain on the green during the hot time of the day. Otherwise, instead of being useful, watering can lead to root rot and sunburn of foliage and flowers.

The lack of water during cultivation and care of nasturtium causes a disproportionate elongation and weakening of the stems, crushing and yellowing of the leaves, mass shedding of flowers and buds. You can support a weakened plant with mineral top dressing, as well as regular pruning of old and dry stems, removing wilted leaves and corollas.

If signs of diseases or traces of pests are found on the nasturtium, the damaged parts of the plant are removed and destroyed, and the crown is treated with insecticides or other drugs.

Collection of nasturtium seeds in the garden

Many types of nasturtium common in Russia, in addition to foreign ones, produce seeds suitable for planting. It is not difficult to collect the fruits formed in place of the calyx with three seeds under a thick folded peel.

If you look at the nasturtium and photos of flowers, you can see how, increasing in size, the fruits change color from bright green to pale. This is the process of maturation, and then the seeds with dried skin, ready for germination, fall off and remain viable for at least four years.

When to collect nasturtium seeds in order to prevent their unauthorized dispersal? Indeed, unlike stems and leaves, nasturtium seeds are not afraid of frost and will certainly start growing even in autumn, but the sprouts will not be able to overwinter.

The average period of fruit ripening on cultivated species is 40 days after the appearance of the flower. When collecting, they are guided by this period. If the onset of frosts forces to pluck more green seeds, they can be made to ripen by drying and stirring at room temperature for 1–2 months.

Amazing nasturtium flower - video

Nasturtium is very popular with amateur flower growers. It grows and blooms on rather poor soils; on soils rich in organic matter, a huge green mass develops to the detriment of flowering. This is an annual plant, its thick succulent stems reach a length of 2-3 m. There are also bush varieties of 25-30 cm.

The leaves of the flowers are round and shield-like, shiny, covered with a wax coating, bright green. The flowers are large, up to 5 cm in diameter. Coloring can be cream, salmon, yellow, red, pink, cherry.

When choosing species and varieties for planting in a summer cottage, you should carefully study their differences.

plant species

Bush nasturtium

The plant is an annual and is a pretty flowering shrub that is ideal for landscaping. It is used for vases and balconies, participates in decorating the territory in borders and mixborders.

Curly nasturtium

An annual plant, with the help of which hedges are formed or standard vertical gardening, for example, a flower is planted along balconies, arbors, fences and walls.

Nasturtium apmelnaya

A pretty plant that is also involved in vertical gardening. Suitable for decorating residential buildings - terraces, balconies, walls.

Nasturtium terry

Annual, which is often used to decorate the summer cottage. In this case, the flower can serve as a landscaper of a veranda, house, balcony, and so on.

Nasturtium climbing

A beautiful perennial plant that is grown in pots (at home) and in flower beds (country floriculture).

Growing conditions

If you want to grow beautiful greenery and bright flowers, and not a mixture of plants that just got mixed up and began to wither, strict adherence to agricultural practices is necessary.

Properly caring for the plant and taking the necessary steps, you will achieve excellent results, both in the country and at home.

Location selection

The plant is photophilous and thermophilic, and therefore it is worth forgetting about the penumbra and silence of a shady garden, because the place of nasturtium is in a flower bed, near the fence of the territory, in landscape decoration or even single plantings.

Try to plant a flower in places well protected from drafts, because almost all plants do not react well to cold winds.

The most suitable soil

The flower prefers moderate soil, both in terms of moisture and useful substances. As we mentioned above, the plant is gaining green mass on well-manured soil, but shows poor flowering, so it's up to you to decide on this fact.

You should not fertilize nasturtium with fresh organic matter, as the plant can burn out, but it is simply necessary to apply mineral fertilizers to the soil, since it reacts to such substances with abundant flowering.

Using nasturtium (video)

Watering the plant

Watering should be systematic, but very moderate, which is most important for young plantings. During flowering, nasturtium is watered only on the driest days, but during the standard warm season, watering can be stopped altogether.

How to prolong flowering?

It must be understood that constant abundant watering can lead to rotting of the plant, especially on heavy soils. Therefore, it is worth observing the timeliness of irrigation, but do not forget to do pruning. Removing weak branches and faded buds will help prolong flowering significantly.

Transplant and reproduction

How to transplant nasturtium?

Our plant is considered quite tender, and therefore its transplantation requires special attention. The superficial root system is very sensitive to all sorts of disturbances, and therefore the transplantation takes place along with an earthy clod that must not be disturbed.

After transplantation, the plant must adapt, but this takes time. Don't be discouraged if the nasturtium looks sluggish at first, just keep watering regularly and wait.

Seedling propagation

Reproduction of nasturtium can be carried out by seeds or by growing seedlings. If you want to plant flowers on the site already in the form of seedlings, then the initial stage of cultivation will be the distribution of seeds in peat cups, 2-3 for each. After 10-14 days, you will notice seedlings that can be transplanted into open ground in early June. It is required to plant a flower with an earthy clod or together with a glass.

We propagate the flower by seeds

You can also try growing nasturtium seeds, which is not difficult. Seeds are prepared in water or a special nutrient solution, and planted in a warm area after the night frosts in the spring have ended. A few seeds per hole a couple of centimeters deep will be enough to get the seedlings of the plant in 2 weeks.

Reproduction by cuttings

Propagation of nasturtium by cuttings is used extremely rarely and mainly for new varieties. The rooting of young cuttings of the plant occurs in water or wet sand, then the cuttings can be planted directly in open ground, avoiding shkolku.

Growing features

• Landing occurs only in warm ground and only with an earthen clod.
• Early flowering can be achieved if you use the seedling method of growing.
• Excessive fertilization with organics contributes to abundant green mass, the correct fertilizer with minerals ensures long-term flowering.
• If you create favorable conditions for nasturtium, it will shed seeds that can overwinter in the soil and give young plants next spring.
• Seed germination persists for 4 years.

Nasturtium can be safely called an unpretentious flower, but if you provide the plant with proper care, it will look much more beautiful than an abandoned wild specimen in a summer cottage.

Growing nasturtium in the country (video)

Reviews and comments

Anastasia 25.09.2010

Very beautiful plants, but freeze during frosts (

irina 23.04.2014

My nasturtium leaves turn yellow and dry up, help, how can I help her?

Nikolay 24.07.2014

And I was attracted by nasturtium with its red flowers and of course leaves!

Olga 14.02.2015

Nasturtium pleases me with splendor and brightness. I collect flowers. And pour 6-9:% vinegar. Vinegar becomes fragrant, beautiful in color and is used to dress salads and dumplings. Store in the dark.

Natalia 23.08.2015

I wanted to ask: what animals can damage nasturtium seedlings and how to deal with it?

Olga 24.09.2015

The nasturtium let me down this year - the seeds didn’t sprout (((I was so hoping that she would please me with her flowering .... I really like the foliage of this plant, also decorative. Next season I will buy it again, maybe more lucky.

Lyudmila 28.09.2015

This year, Zebra nasturtium was planted for the first time. She “sat” for a long time, and now in September there is a wonderful lush flowering - we rejoice! Thanks for the useful advice, next year we will try to plant different varieties and seedlings, we hope to see this beauty as soon as possible.

From my experience of growing Nasturtium, I can say that it prefers moderately fertile and moist soils, but it does not tolerate both excess fertilizer (especially nitrogen and fresh organic, such as manure) and excessive watering (especially during flowering). From this it blooms very poorly, although the leaves grow remarkably. In addition, nasturtium does not tolerate lime, but on the contrary, it really needs phosphate fertilizers.

Lydia 12/30/2017

I planted bush and ampelous nasturtium, I did not see the difference. Only at the end of autumn the ampelous one began to produce long whips. And another question - I collected seeds from a white ampelous nasturtium, the next year her flowers turned yellow. Why? It doesn't look like a hybrid.

Marie28 01/06/2018

Nasturtium changes the color of the leaves with improper agricultural practices. High soil moisture, poor lighting, lack of certain minerals, or mosaic disease. You can restore the health of a flower only by adjusting the care of the plant. Cut off all yellowed leaves, burn. Apply azophos to the soil. Watering is done only in the morning or after sunset, regularly, but moderately. On especially hot days, protect the flower from direct sunlight, arrange a shelter for them.

Marie28 01/06/2018

From animals such as cows, sheep, goats, flowers can be protected only with the help of a fence. If we are talking about pests: aphids, cabbage moths, whitefish or spider mites, which most often attack nasturtium, then only spraying with insecticidal preparations (Spark, Aktellik, Fufanon, Fitoverm) will help here. If there are few pests, then folk remedies are effective. Sprinkling with wood ash, spraying with soapy water. And remember, plants with healthy immunity do not harm. Therefore, carry out the correct agricultural cultivation techniques.

Marie28 01/06/2018

The reason why the flower changed its color can be several. Over-pollination, an excess or deficiency of a mineral, as well as a reaction to a certain top dressing. Most likely, during the budding period, you fed a fertilizer containing ammonia, which changes the color of the pigmentation. By the way, white petals turn yellow if watered or sprayed with a solution of ammonia.

Nasturtium or Capuchin in its homeland of South and Central America is considered a perennial plant. In ornamental horticulture, this plant is known as an annual. In nature, nasturtium is found in mountainous, forested areas and lowlands. In Russia, this flower appeared thanks to Dutch flower growers.

The plant has a long flowering and is not demanding to care. It is because of these features that many gardeners choose it. Nasturtium is suitable for decorating any garden, decorating flower beds, borders, arches, arbors, window sills, balconies, hanging baskets, pots, vertical trellises.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) comes from the Nasturtium or Capuchin family. It has bright large or small (depending on the species) solitary, zygomorphic flowers of various shades.
The color of nasturtium flowers can be cherry, brown, raspberry, salmon, pink, scarlet, pale yellow, cream, yellow, orange and apricot.

Simple, double, semi-double flowers grow from 2 to 8 centimeters in diameter. The flower consists of a funnel-shaped tube and five or more petals. The flower has a delicate, delicate scent.

Bright green rounded shield-like large leaves are found in most species, but alternate, lobed, entire or palmately divided leaves are also found. They are arranged alternately and have a glossy surface with a wax coating.

The stems, depending on the variety, can be creeping, branching, curly and upright.

Nasturtium is provided by many types and varieties. In floriculture, there are about 25 species of this beautiful flower, while scientists know more than 90 species.

Depending on the place of growth, shrub, ampelous, liana, climbing, creeping varieties are selected. The most common plants are found in the form of vines and shrubs.

Shrub view forms compact plants, holds its shape and is used in the design of borders and flower beds.

Nasturtium tricolor It has powerful roots and weaving stems. Coloring is bright, combines different shades. The look is decorative.

ampel view is a cascade of falling shoots with flowers.

Nasturtium is beautiful has thick rhizomes or tubers. The stems curl, the color of the flowers is red.

climbing view forms long stems and is used for planting on lawns, in flower beds, in pots, baskets, for decorating balconies, nets, arbors, as a ground cover or ampel plant.

undersized view forms upright compact plants 25-30 centimeters high.

Dwarf (small) nasturtium is distinguished by thinner stems 15-35 centimeters high. The flowers and leaves of the species are small (no more than 3 centimeters in diameter). Flowers with dark spots of yellow.

creeping nasturtium forms a living flower carpet.

Tuberous nasturtium forms tubers underground.

Canarian (foreign) nasturtium is very different from all other species. Curly stems form a vine that grows up to 3.5-4 meters and needs support. It is this nasturtium that is called curly.

This flower has corrugated leaves and small bright yellow flowers. This type of nasturtium grows rapidly and blooms until the first frost. Due to the low resistance to cold in the cultural floriculture, nasturtium is grown for no more than 1 season.

This species is the most demanding for heat and moisture. The plant is suitable for decoration of arbors, fences, outbuildings.

The most famous species is big nasturtium. An upright plant grows up to 25-70 centimeters. The creeping plant reaches 2.5 meters. The flowers of both subspecies are bright, large. Large nasturtium is a parent plant for many hybrids that are united by a common species (hybrid, cultivated).

Also, nasturtium can be extra-double or thick-double. This species reproduces by seeds or vegetatively. Mostly these flowers are grown as an ampelous plant.

Nasturtium is very popular and breeders bring out new varieties every year.

Popular varieties of nasturtium include:

Variety Yeti has climbing shoots, the length reaches 2 meters. The leaves are light green. The flowers are a delicate white-cream with yellow spots in the center of the color.

cherry rose- this variety can decorate any flower garden with its beautiful and bright colors. Terry flowers have a raspberry-pink color. The plant grows up to 30 centimeters in height.

Variety Vesuvius has compact, small bushes 25-30 centimeters high. The stems are erect, the leaves are large as the plant grows, it becomes semi-creeping. Flowers with maroon spots on the upper part of the flower, salmon pink with an orange tint.

canary liana or Canary (South American liana) is a variety with long curly light green stems, 3.5 meters high. The leaves are light green in color and unusually shaped, with 5-7 separate leaves. The flowers are small, about 2 cm in diameter. The edges are fringed, the color is canary yellow with green spurs.
Flowering of this variety lasts from mid-summer to the beginning of cold weather.

Sort Day and night, is a low bushes about 30 centimeters high. The shoots are erect, the leaves are light green. Flowers are cream and red. This contrast of colors attracts many gardeners.

There are a lot of varieties and can also be distinguished: variety Peach Melba, Alaska, Ladybug, Terry Mix, Gleming Mahagani, Tom Tamb, Lucifer, Golden Globe, Type Top, King Theodore, Moonlight, Black Lady and others.

The flower propagates in three ways:

• seeds,
• cuttings,
• seedlings.

The easiest way to breed nasturtium is direct sowing in open ground. But in a cool spring, it is advisable to sow flowers at home for seedlings, and then plant stronger plants in the garden. This cultivation allows you to accelerate flowering. Seeds at home are planted from late March to early April. In regions with a cool climate, sowing is pushed back to mid-April - early May.

Terry and new varieties can be propagated by cuttings. Cuttings are rooted in water or wet sand before planting. This method allows you to maximize the specific (varietal) qualities of flowers.

Biocontainers (compressed vermicompost in granules), peat pots, cups with a removable bottom (10 cm in diameter) or peat tablets are suitable for this purpose.

Due to the weak roots of nasturtium, diving is not recommended.

Sprouts in peat tablets, when 2 main leaves appear, are transplanted into a pot. The tablets dissolve quickly in the soil and improve the quality of the soil and save on fertilizers.

The grown plants are transplanted with an earthen clod or directly in peat pots, biocontainers. Flowers are hardened before planting. In warm weather, seedlings are taken out for 2-4 hours a day in the air. Flowering occurs in 1-1.5 months.

Seed and soil preparation

Before planting nasturtium seeds for seedlings, they need to be prepared.

1. First of all, the seeds need to be sorted and the best ones selected. Underdeveloped, small and damaged are removed.
2. Then, for disinfection, the seeds are placed for 15 minutes in a potassium permanganate solution heated to 60 degrees.
3. After that, they need to be placed in cotton cloth or gauze and placed for a day in cool water.
4. For faster germination, they can be germinated a little and only then planted in pots.

You can buy ready-made soil mixture or make it yourself.

• A sod layer of earth is taken (1 part),
• sand (1 part),
• peat (1 part).

The mixture is thoroughly mixed and sieved. After that, it undergoes heat treatment with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Potassium permanganate and boiling water disinfect the earth. The soil mixture remains at room temperature for 1-2 days. Then it is distributed in containers and can be taken for sowing.

Potassium permanganate can be replaced by watering with Fitosporin solution.

Sowing

Prepared seeds can be planted in the ground.

Varieties that will continue to grow indoors are planted immediately in a pot in a permanent place.

In any container, a recess of 2 centimeters is made. 2-3 seeds are placed in each container.

The earth is pressed a little and watered from a watering can with a nozzle or with a spray bottle. Such watering does not erode the soil and allows you to keep the seeds in their places.

Peat tablets are placed in a container and watered. Each tablet contains 1-2 seeds.

Containers with seeds are placed on a bright and warm windowsill.

Care

Subject to the temperature regime (20-22 degrees), the first shoots appear in 13-15 days. After 2 weeks, the growing temperature should be reduced by 2 degrees.

Seedlings should not stretch, otherwise the plants will be weak and will not take root well when transplanted into open ground. In case of poor lighting, seedlings need to provide additional lighting with a phytolamp. Light day should be about 15 hours.

Watering is carried out when the soil dries up. Flowers love dry air and spraying is not required for them. Moisture on plants should be excluded. If possible, water is poured directly into the pan and the roots of the plants receive moisture immediately from the soil.

One strong plant remains in the container with seedlings, the other (weaker) ones are removed.

Nasturtium: cultivation and care - video

Transplanting nasturtium seedlings into the ground

The place of cultivation should be protected from drafts and well lit.
An important factor for plant development is fertile, water and breathable, slightly acidic soil. Depleted soil is reflected in the splendor and flowering of the flower. Land with a high content of organic matter leads to the growth of green mass and the absence of flowers. Plants respond well to mineral fertilizers.

Transplantation is carried out depending on the climate from early May to early June. The weather should be sunny and warm. Seedlings by this time should reach 7 centimeters.

The gap between plants should be at least 20 centimeters, for tall and bushy varieties, the distance increases to 40 centimeters. The pits should be slightly larger than the volume of the pots (cups).

The plant is carefully, together with an earthen clod, rolled into a prepared hole, squeezed with earth and watered under the root. Peat, compost or any other type of mulch is scattered around the plants to contain moisture.

For the first time, in order to avoid freezing at night, the plants are covered with a film.

Sowing in the ground is carried out at the end of frost, depending on the regions from late April to early June. Sown seeds are covered with a film or non-woven material to keep warm and quickly germinate. Covering material is removed in early June.

Seeds before sowing are immersed in hot water (for 15-20 minutes), and then soaked for a day in water at room temperature. Seeds are buried in the ground by 2 centimeters. The gap between the pits is 25-30 centimeters. 3-4 seeds are placed in one hole. The air temperature during cultivation should not fall below 16 degrees.

For faster spitting of seeds, plantings are watered with heated water up to 45-50 degrees.

The first shoots appear after 15 days. This planting allows you to grow plants that are more resistant to diseases and adapted to the conditions of the local climate and soil. Flowering occurs an order of magnitude later than planting grown plants.

Nasturtium care consists of weeding, regular watering, loosening and top dressing. Weeding retains moisture and helps the roots get air. When planting weaving varieties, the soil can be mulched with sawdust, straw, dry fine grass, and needles.

Watering is done with warm water. The first weeks, before flowering, watering should be plentiful, then it is sharply reduced. Moisture is supplied after the soil dries. Excess water leads to the growth of green mass and the absence of flowers.

Before flowering, potash-phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the soil every 7-10 days.

To stimulate lush flowering, all wilted flowers are removed from the plant. Dead stems and leaves are trimmed with a sharp knife.

Nasturtium is not damaged by omnivorous pests (cabbage, aphids, whiteflies, Colorado potato beetles).

For this reason, this useful plant is planted between beds with nightshade crops and cabbage. This planting reduces the number of pests.

For other insects, nasturtium is an excellent honey plant.

Of the diseases, nasturtium is affected by bactericidal wilt. The lower leaves at the beginning become weak, and then the plant dies.

Black or dirty brown stains, spots on the plant characterize rust.
With the appearance of gray rot, brown dry spots appear on the leaf plates.

Mosaic is manifested by variegated, bright stains.
Also on the flowers you can see the ring spot virus, leaf spot.

When any of the diseases appears, the affected plants must be removed from the site and burned. The well is treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Healthy flowers are treated with insecticides (Ridomil, Topaz, Oksikh).

An excess of moisture and top spraying harms the plant and leads to diseases.
Weeding and loosening the soil avoids infection, and saves planting.

If possible, you can not buy nasturtium seeds, but collect them yourself. To do this, you need to monitor the condition of the fruits formed from the flowers. For seeds, the largest fruits are left. Ripe fruits become whitish.

The ripening period after withering of the flower is 40-50 days. Seeds must be collected immediately, otherwise the seeds will fall to the ground.

Seeds that fall into the soil remain viable and begin to germinate in the spring.

The only type of nasturtium in which the seeds do not fully ripen (in the middle lane) is foreign. The collected seeds reach the windowsill.

Dry seeds are packaged in paper bags and stored indoors (at 22-23 degrees) until the new season.

Nasturtium seeds remain viable for 4 years.

After collecting the seeds, the withered stems are removed from the site, and the soil is dug up.

This beautiful ornamental plant has many useful properties. The flower is used for medicinal and culinary purposes.

This plant is used for beriberi, anemia, depression, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, in the treatment of acne, skin rashes, to stimulate hair growth.

The plant has an expectorant property and helps with coughing.

Provitamin A and phytoncides restore metabolism, help with atherosclerosis. A large amount of vitamin C in the plant helps in the treatment of scurvy. Essential oils are effective in vascular diseases. Carotene and sulfur from the plant are useful in sclerosis.

It contains a lot of phosphorus, iodine, potassium.

Infusions, decoctions are prepared from the plant, juice is squeezed out, vinegar and oil are made. Can be used fresh.

In cooking, the flower is used as a component for soups, salads, and to decorate dishes.

Dry, crushed seeds replace black ground pepper. Pickled fruits resemble capers.

They can be used as seasoning for various dishes. Young leaves can be added to salad. Vinegar and oil are made from nasturtium.

Unpretentious flowers for the Nasturtium garden: video

Observing all the necessary rules for growing nasturtium from seeds, you can get strong and healthy seedlings, and later beautiful bright flowers.

The name of nasturtium comes from the Latin word ‘trophae’ - a trophy, according to the helmet-shaped form of some parts of the flower and thyroid leaves.

Or a Capuchin Tropaeolum) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Nasturtium family ( Tropaeolaceae), which includes about 90 species native to Central and South America.

Nasturtiums are annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plants. Stems are fleshy, juicy, highly branched, erect, creeping or curly, up to 200 cm long. The leaves are arranged in the next order, rounded, shield-shaped, with an entire margin, on long petioles and with a waxy coating.

Nasturtium flowers with a delicate, pleasant aroma, irregular, on long peduncles, solitary, located in the axils of the leaves. Calyx with a spur at the base, brightly colored. Corolla free-petaled, with five yellow, orange or red petals. The fruit of nasturtium is collapsible, breaking up into three identical, round-reniform, wrinkled fruitlets. In 1 g 10-40 rounded kidney-shaped seeds, the germination of which lasts 4-5 years. When sowing, shoots appear on the 12-14th day.

In ornamental gardening, the following species are most often grown: Nasturtium big (Tropaeolum majus), Nasturtium foreign (Tropaeolum peregrinum) and Nasturtium is beautiful (Tropaeolum speciosum).

In pre-Columbian America, perennial nasturtiums that form tubers underground were widely used as food. This is tuberous nasturtium (Tropaeolum tuberosum), which was cultivated by the ancient Indians in the mountainous regions of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and fine-leaved nasturtium (Tropaeolum leptophyllum) - it was grown in Ecuador and Peru.

Growing nasturtium

There are five secrets to growing nasturtium that beginner growers should definitely consider.

1. Nasturtium is very thermophilic, so there is no need to rush to sow nasturtium seeds in the garden. Frozen nasturtium seedlings will inevitably die. For landscaping the balcony and for early flowering in the garden, sow nasturtium seedlings in April.
2. Nasturtium does not tolerate transplanting well (this plant has a superficial and delicate root system). Therefore, it is better to grow seedlings in peat cups or in cups with a retractable bottom.
3. Nasturtium loves a bright location - plant it in the sun or in light partial shade under the trees. With a lack of light, nasturtium has a miserable appearance: it forms stunted shoots, grows and almost does not bloom.
4. Nasturtium prefers moderately fertile and well drained soil. On fertile and manured soil, nasturtium develops a lot of greenery, but blooms very weakly; does not tolerate fresh manure. The plant responds well to feeding with potassium and phosphorus, continuously forming an abundance of flowers.
5. Nasturtium prefers moderately moist soil. Young plants need to be watered regularly, then they grow well. After the nasturtium begins to bloom, it should be watered only when the soil is very dry (otherwise the plant will have few flowers and a lot of foliage). On heavy soil, with excess moisture, the roots of nasturtium rot.

Sowing nasturtium

Under favorable conditions, nasturtium sets many seeds, which, crumbling, are able to overwinter in the soil.

Nasturtium seeds are large, enclosed in a thick protective shell. The seeds on the plant do not ripen at the same time, as the flowers fade (40-50 days after the petals have fallen). Seed germination lasts 3-4 years.

Ripe seeds - "peas" of nasturtium spontaneously fall off, so be careful if you want to collect seeds. Remove the seeds as they ripen (from green they become whitish, easily separated from the peduncle). If seeds are not needed in large quantities, then faded flowers should be regularly removed to prolong abundant flowering.

• Nasturtium seeds are sown directly into the ground in May, after soaking them for a day in water.
• Swollen seeds are planted in the garden in nests: 3-4 seeds in each hole, maintaining a distance between holes of 25-30 cm
• Nasturtium seeds germinate in two weeks.
• Flowering begins about a month and a half after germination.
• Up to the beginning of flowering, nasturtium seedlings are fed with a full complex fertilizer (3-4 times a month).

For earlier flowering of nasturtium, seedlings can be grown. Sow in the first days of May in 9 cm pots of 3 pieces. Seedlings appear in two weeks. Landing in the ground is carried out only with an earthen clod in early June.

Reproduction of nasturtium cuttings

Reproduction of nasturtiums is possible by cuttings, which take root perfectly in water and in wet sand. This technique is used when propagating new, and especially terry varieties. Since nasturtium is a perennial plant, you can leave the most outstanding specimens to winter in a pot on a bright, cool window with limited watering, and cut them in the spring.

Use of nasturtium in design

Undersized species and varieties of nasturtiums are suitable for vases, borders, flower beds in the form of wide ribbons. Species and varieties with long shoots are used as ampelous plants, for vertical gardening, and as ground cover.

The use of nasturtium in cooking

In ordinary garden nasturtiums, all parts of the plant are edible, except for the roots. Rich in vitamin C, fresh young leaves and stems add some piquancy to salads and sandwiches, flower extracts are added to cheeses and butter, nasturtium flowers are infused with vinegar, stuffed with various fillings, and also used as an edible decoration in salads, soups and drinks. Finally, the dried, peeled, and ground seeds have a spicy, peppery flavor and are used as a seasoning for a wide variety of dishes (it is said that many countries used ground nasturtium seeds instead of black pepper quite actively during World War II).

Useful properties of nasturtium

Nasturtium is used not only as an ornamental and edible plant, but also as a medicinal plant. It treats beriberi, anemia, skin rashes, kidney stone disease, bronchitis and other diseases, it promotes hair growth. Nasturtium has proven itself especially well as an antiscorbutic agent. The amount of vitamin C in it is ten times higher than in ordinary lettuce leaves!

It is even richer in strong antimicrobial substances: phytoncides and provitamin A. Clinical trials of tropolein, a substance isolated from nasturtium essential oil, showed that when it was used in patients with chronic coronary insufficiency caused by atherosclerosis, angina attacks stopped, pain disappeared, and health improved. Nasturtium became very popular when it was found that dishes from it have dietary and medicinal properties in a number of diseases, and especially in atherosclerosis and metabolic disorders associated with age-related changes. It has been established that tubers in tuberous species contain substances that reduce the level of testosterone in the body and thus act as anti-Viagra.

Popular varieties of nasturtium

• Nasturtium Vesuvius- Upright bush up to 30 cm tall, as it grows, it becomes semi-creeping. The leaves are large, rounded, dark green. The flowers are simple, up to 5 cm in diameter, salmon-pink with an orange tint, on the two upper petals there is a dark red spot with strokes around. The cup is yellow.
• Nasturtium Garnet Jam(Garnet Gem) - Erect, compact shrub, up to 30 cm tall. The leaves are large, rounded, light green. The flowers are double, rather large, up to 6 cm in diameter, garnet red with an orange tinge. Brown strokes on the top two petals. The calyx is bright yellow.
• Nasturtium Golden Globe(Golden Globe) - Bush compact, spherical, erect, 25 cm tall, up to 40 cm across. The leaves are rounded, light green. The flowers are double, large, up to 6.5 cm in diameter, golden yellow, without spots. The cup is yellow.
• Nasturtium Globe of Fire(Globe of Fire) - Upright bush up to 45 cm tall. The leaves are light green. The flowers are double, large, up to 7 cm in diameter, bright orange. The top two petals have dark brown streaks. The calyx is dark yellow.
• Nasturtium Kaiserin von India(Kaiserin von Indien) - Erect bush, 20-25 cm tall, compact, spherical. The leaves are small, dark green with a purple bloom, gray on the underside. The flowers are simple, up to 4.5 cm in diameter, dark red with brown-red strokes at the base of the two upper petals. The calyx is orange-red on the outside.
• Nasturtium Foyeoglantz(Feuerglanz) - Creeping shrub up to 25 cm tall. The leaves are large, light green. The flowers are large, up to 6 cm in diameter, double, fiery orange with dark red strokes on the two upper petals. The calyx is orange-red.

We wish you success in growing this beautiful plant! Looking forward to your advice!