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Nasturtiums - Trapaeolum majus
Nasturtiums are a beautiful annual plant that grows well in large containers or right in the garden. There are a variety of colours from gold, orange, scarlet and peach. The plants will get very bushy and produce many, many blooms in a variety of colours.
Nasturtiums buds, flowers and young leaves are edible and add a spicy, peppery taste to salads. The blossoms can be made into a vinegar. The flowers are ideal for cutting. They prefer to grow in full sun and in well drained to dry soil. Seeds can be sowed directly outside after the last frost. Cover with 2.5 cm. of earth. Thin the seedlings so they are about 15 cm. apart. If you carefully remove extras using a fork you can transplant them in other places. They do not always transplant when the seedling gets too big, so sow the seeds directly where you want them to grow. Be sure to pinch away any leaves that turn yellow. Plants can get leggy, so don't be afraid to cut them back, water well and they will regrow fairly quickly.
Nasturtiums act like insect repellent. Plant around broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage family, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit trees. Deters white flies, squash bugs, and are a trap crop for aphids. Ladybugs love to eat aphids. Hummingbirds and bees are attracted to the flowers. seedpod, seeds and seedling seeds still drying on the plant - seeds ready to plant - seedling plant
Print a seed packet for nasturtium seeds.
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