Nasturtiums are known for their brightly colored flowers and for being easy to grow. They offer a bonus, too: many parts of the plants are edible. Nasturtium leaves will spark up a salad with a peppery flavor. The flowers smell and taste sweet, and they are less peppery than the leaves. The seed pods are sometimes used as a substitute for capers.
There are varieties of nasturtiums to fit many spots in your garden, from bushy plants to climbing and trailing vines. Trailing nasturtiums make excellent container plants. The gaily colored blossoms can be yellow, orange, pink, red, or white; some are bi-colored. Nasturtium leaves are rounded and attractive in their own right.
Because nasturtiums grow easily from seed and generally don't like being transplanted, you may not find nasturtium plants in garden centers. It's best to sow seeds directly into the ground after the last frost in spring. They are large and easy to plant and will sprout in about 7-10 days. Nasturtiums usually will thrive even when grown in poor soil and somewhat neglected. You'll get better results if you use Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control® Potting Mix or Garden Soil.
