Nasturtium: The uncomplicated exotic

An exotic beauty, nasturtium has a pungent, aromatic flavor. We will inform you about the cultivation, varieties, care and use of the nasturtium.

The Nasturtium (tropaeolum), also known as nasturtium or Indian cress, is often cultivated as an annual due to its sensitivity to cold. In this article we will tell you how to grow the decorative plant yourself, what varieties for the garden and pot are recommended and how you can use the tasty flowers of the nasturtium in the kitchen.

Nasturtium: origin and history

Nasturtiums form a family of their own within the plant kingdom, but in German gardens the nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) and the small nasturtium (

Tropaeolum minus) to be found. Both of these are usually offered commercially under the name nasturtium. Nasturtium originally comes from South America and arrived in the 17th Century by Dutch merchant ships to Europe, where it quickly became a popular ornamental plant. It received the name nasturtium from its flowers, the shape of which is reminiscent of the hoods of the nasturtium monks. Even if, due to the cress-like taste of the nasturtium, it will probably soon be related to the well-known one garden cress suspected, these two herbs are unrelated.

Nasturtium varieties for cultivation

The cultivation of different types of nasturtium has its own appeal, because the flowers glow in the most beautiful colors - from soft pink and pastel yellow, to strong red and orange, to velvety Dark red. There are even strains that show flowers of different colors on one plant. When buying seeds, the species also plays an important role - while the large nasturtium is 1 to 3 meters long Forming tendrils, the small nasturtium (as the name suggests) remains rather small and bushy Growth.

Popular varieties of nasturtium at a glance:

• 'Banana Split': Attractive, banana-yellow flowers and an overhanging habit make this variety the perfect pot plant for patios and balconies.
• 'Black Velvet': This variety impresses with its velvety, black-red flowers.
• 'Phoenix': A real feast for the eyes: the flowers of the 'Phoenix' variety enchant with yellow, red and apricot tones and an unusual shape with fringed petals.
• 'Variegated Queen': This variety does not bear its title for nothing, because it looks really royal! 'Variegated Queen' has white-green speckled foliage and flowers range in color from bright sunshine yellow to rich red.

A larger selection of different Cress varieties and species can be found in our special articles.

Plant nasturtiums

The cultivation of nasturtiums in the garden or on the balcony is unproblematic, since the exotic plant gets by with little care if the right location is chosen. We will show you how to plant nasturtiums in pots and what you need to consider when sowing.

The right location for nasturtiums

Nasturtium thrives well on humus-rich, well-drained soil, because it does not like waterlogging at all. It also loves sunny to partially shaded locations. Due to its high water content, the nasturtium is sensitive to even mild minus temperatures and is therefore cultivated in Germany as an annual. Even the first night frosts transform the colorful blossoms into a tangle of dead plant parts within a very short time.

Plant nasturtiums in pots

The nasturtium is also ideal for growing in pots or balcony boxes. It is best to use normal garden soil as a substrate, mixed in with some sand. You should also make sure that the planter has enough drainage holes to avoid waterlogging. Basically, the nasturtium thrives in a pot in any location, but if you want a rich bloom, you should make sure that there is enough sun.

tip: Most varieties of nasturtium grow sprawling with long shoots that either crawl on the ground or climb on climbing aids. When growing in a pot, it can therefore make sense to use compact growing varieties.

Sow nasturtiums

Due to its tropical origin, nasturtium is very sensitive to cold. Therefore, outdoor sowing should only be done after the ice saints to avoid the last night frosts. The seeds will be approx. Sow 2 cm deep with a spacing of 10 cm. Alternatively, three grains can be planted together every 20 cm. Incidentally, seeds can easily be obtained from your own plants in autumn.

If you want to start growing earlier, you can already plant the nasturtium indoors. However, especially with strongly climbing varieties, sowing should not be started too early, so that the young plants that sprout vigorously do not take up the entire apartment as a living space.

Cultivate nasturtium

Despite its South American roots, the nasturtium has proven to be easy to care for and uncomplicated in the right location. On humus-rich soils, the plants only need to be lightly fertilized with mostly organic fertilizers because too many nutrients ensure that they shoot into the leaf and only a few flowers bring forth. Our Plantura is very suitable Organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect that slowly and gently releases its nutrients. So there is no risk of the nasturtium shooting into the leaf and hardly forming any flowers. You can safely do without a pruning. However, the nasturtium tolerates a courageous grip on the scissors if you want to curb the climbing plant a little.

Harvesting and storing nasturtiums

The leaves of the nasturtium can be harvested throughout the growing season. From the beginning of the flowering period in June until the first frosts in autumn, the plants produce masses of colorful flowers and seed pods, which are also edible.

The bountiful harvest of leaves, buds, and seed pods begs to be processed! But preserving the delicious spice is difficult, as the flowers and leaves are not suitable for drying or freezing. However, there is an option to pickle buds and immature seed pods like capers, herbal vinegar or make delicious pesto from the leaves that will keep in the fridge for a few weeks leaves.

Ingredients and use of nasturtium

Mustard oil glucosides give nasturtium its pungent, cress-like taste. Their healing effect on bacteria, viruses and fungi is undisputed; In 2013, the nasturtium was even voted medicinal plant of the year. The plant extract is often used to prevent urinary tract infections and colds. But the plant also contains other healthy ingredients - including vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids and sulfur. Nasturtium tastes best freshly picked - for example in herb butter and quark, as a spicy salad ingredient or as an edible flower decoration. A special delicacy are the flowers filled with cream cheese. The larger leaves can also be filled like grape leaves.

Nasturtium: diseases and pests

Two pests that can pose a threat to the exotic beauty are the hungry caterpillars of the Large Cabbage White and aphids. In the past, attempts were made to take advantage of this fact in the vegetable garden: as a "aphid catcher", nasturtiums were supposed to keep the pests away from other endangered plants. However, this method is only successful in exceptional cases, since the different types of pests have very specific host plants and are not even distracted by the succulent shoots of the nasturtium permit.

Simple home remedies, such as regular spraying with soapy water, often help against aphid infestation. Heavily affected shoots can be removed. As with all plants that are supposed to end up on your plate at some point, toxic sprays are not the product of choice. A biological and harmless means for successfully combating pests such as aphids is ours Plantura Organic Pest Free Neem. It is based on the 100% herbal and natural active ingredient neem and is used as a spray. Bees and other beneficial insects are not endangered.

More information on the topic growing nasturtium can be found in our special article.