Hello, beloved readers! Today I will continue the “capuchin” theme with a story about growing nasturtium and caring for it from sowing to collecting seeds. I will also reveal little secret lush and abundant flowering this beauty. You already know how nasturtium is useful, and growing it will become easier after reading this article.
I'll start with the requirements from nasturtium. This plant prefers moderately fertile, light-textured, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic environment. On soils rich in organic matter, plants become fattened, as a rule, to the detriment of flowering. When grown in poor soils, nasturtium loses its decorative effect, the leaves become small and the stems become bare. In heavy and waterlogged soils, the roots rot, which leads to the death of plants.
Nasturtium is photophilous. To grow this crop, choose a well-lit, sunny place, protected from the wind. In partial shade and shade, plants produce significantly more leaves than flowers. It is also very heat-loving and does not tolerate frost.
Planting nasturtium
These flowers are perennial by nature, but are cultivated as annual crops. Most types of nasturtium are propagated by seeds. Terry varieties, as well as new varieties, are propagated vegetatively by cuttings. You can learn about some from the previous article.
Capuchin seeds remain viable for 4 years. Before sowing, nasturtium seeds are placed in hot water(+40...+50°C) for 15-20 minutes, and then soaked for 24 hours.
When growing nasturtium from seeds, two planting methods are used: seedless and seedling.
With the seedless method of growing nasturtium, 2-3 seeds are dropped into the holes to a depth of 2 cm in increments of 20-30 cm. The sowing time in open ground is the end of May. The seedlings of this crop are afraid of May frosts and die when the air temperature drops to 0°C.
In those regions where return frosts are possible, there should be no rush to plant nasturtium. Or you can use the following technique. So, in order to speed up the emergence of seedlings and the onset of flowering, before sowing the seeds, the soil is shed with water (+40...+50°C). The sown plot of land is covered non-woven material, and at night additionally with plastic wrap. Water moderately, only warm water. Young plants are finally opened in the first ten days of June.
Growing nasturtium without seedling method has its advantages. Growing plants in a permanent place allows you to avoid their disease, which often happens with seedlings. However, flowering in this case occurs later.
How to Grow Nasturtiums to Bloom Earlier
For more early flowering It is better to use the seedling method. When growing seedlings, it is necessary to take into account that nasturtium has a relatively weak root system with a large leaf surface. Therefore, these plants tolerate any damage to the roots very painfully.
To avoid injury to the root system, seedlings are grown in separate containers without picking and planted together with a ball of earth.
Watering is necessary at the beginning of plant growth. When flowering occurs, nasturtium requires moderate watering, which is carried out only when the soil dries out. Remember that if overwatered, these plants produce few flowers and many leaves.
In order for your beauty to look well-groomed, you need to regularly remove wilted flowers and ovaries. Of course, this is if you don't need seeds. This technique promotes the formation of new flowers and lush flowering.
You can collect the seeds yourself from the plants you like. In place of the flower, a composite fruit is formed, consisting of three seeds. They gradually change color from green to whitish and increase in size. Ripe seeds fall off. Therefore, seeds should be collected as they ripen, avoiding self-sowing. The only species whose seeds do not fully ripen is foreign nasturtium (when grown in the middle zone).
Despite the fact that nasturtium does not tolerate frost, its seeds can overwinter in the soil and still remain viable.
Growing nasturtium is quite a feasible task even for a novice gardener. You already know how to grow nasturtium using seedlings and non-seedlings. I advise you to try both the first and second methods of growing nasturtium. Well and right choice soils, places and moderate watering will help to achieve abundant flowering of this South American beauty.
And this savory paste for sandwiches can be made from nasturtium:
More recipes and tips in the article about types of nasturtium.
May your garden always be beautiful!
I advise, dear readers, not to miss the publication of new materials on this blog.
All the flowers in the garden are magnificent and tropical beauty Nasturtium is no exception. Large yellow, orange and red flowers different shades are islands of sun on a summer cottage.
You can admire this spreading flower on city esplanades, in parks and near administrative buildings. They decorate gazebos and terraces, high flower beds.
In its usual environment, in the warm and humid tropics, nasturtium develops as perennial shrub or liana. In our climate, it is known as an annual, and some fans bring this plant indoors for the winter.
This flower cannot be called capricious, but you need to follow the rules of planting and care. What varieties exist and are there any? beneficial features in this plant.
Nasturtium has strong, long and juicy stems, on which next order leaves are located. They are round, shield-shaped, with uneven edges. Numerous green leaves, sometimes variegated, less often have a brown-green color.
The flowers are usually rich yellow or red, they can have all sorts of shades and vary in the degree of terry. Semi-double and simple, as well as densely double inflorescences are located on long stems. The flower is a funnel-shaped tube with more than five petals.
After flowering, fruits are formed; they are wrinkled, large, and consist of three lobes. They contain kidney-shaped seeds. They are suitable for planting and remain viable for 5 years.
The flower and stem mass of nasturtium is suitable for use as a spice; it is used for cooking in cooking. Known and medicinal properties this amazing plant.
Planting and propagation
Nasturtium needs warmth and protection from the wind, so the planting requirements are appropriate. Illuminated (avoid shade) and leeward areas, so the plant will delight you with abundant and bright flowering, and the bush will not lose its decorative effect.
The soil should be moisture-permeable, slightly acidic, and light. If the soil is infertile or hard, dig it up and add humus. Plants should not be planted in soil that is too rich in organic matter; fresh manure is also contraindicated.
There are several ways to plant nasturtium; it can be easily propagated.
Seeds for seedlings
For those who want to ensure early flowering, you should take care of this in advance. Nasturtium seedlings are planted in April. This bush takes 1.5 months from emergence to flowering. They are planted outside in late May or early June.
- We take containers or peat pots and place the soil mixture there;
- We bury the seeds in the moistened soil (2-3 seeds in pots, and 2-3 seeds in one hole at a distance of up to 8 centimeters in containers);
- Cover with film and place in a warm place;
- Ventilate and spray regularly, check;
- Shoots appear in two weeks or earlier;
- There is no need to dive, as nasturtium does not like this, its delicate roots can be damaged;
- The frosts on the street have passed - we plant them in open ground; a couple of days before planting, it is advisable to take the plants out into the fresh air for acclimatization;
- Depending on whether the bush is compact or a loach, the planting scheme is selected. For the former it is 25 cm, and for liana-like ones up to 40-45 cm;
- We plant the plant together with a lump of earth in the ground, 2 or 3 pieces per hole;
- For climbing plants, you need to install supports immediately upon planting.
In open ground
- The procedure for such sowing is carried out in May, after frost;
- First soak the seeds in hot water (50 degrees) or regular water to swell;
- The bed should be dug up, compost or humus should be added and a little wood ash;
- We make holes at a distance of 25 or 30 centimeters, depending on the variety;
- Sow 2-3 seeds in each hole and sprinkle with soil;
- Water the plantings, seedlings will appear in 10-15 days, and will bloom in 1.5 months or a little later.
The seeds of a faded bush can overwinter in the soil, but this is more typical for the south of our country; in most cases, freezing occurs.
Propagation by cuttings
If it is necessary to propagate a favorite variety during the growing season, they resort to cuttings. Nasturtium takes root well in this case. Hybrids do not produce seeds capable of transferring the characteristics of the mother plant to the next generation.
Therefore, the method of propagation by cuttings is an excellent opportunity to obtain specimens for planting.
- We leave it to winter beautiful plant at home;
- Place it on a cool windowsill, in a bright place and limit watering;
- In the spring, cut the cuttings and plant them in a special mixture in peat pots;
- Plant all the resulting rooted shoots in early June (or earlier, depending on the weather) in permanent places.
Care
Caring for nasturtium is easy - it loves water and loosening. Water regularly and then loosen the surface of the soil. When the flowering period begins, water only as the soil dries. If there is excessive moisture, the root system begins to rot and the plant may die.
Since the bushes are spreading, weeds rarely grow under them.
Before flowering, it is advisable to feed with potassium-phosphorus solution once every 10 days. Then the fertilizers are stopped. If a bush grows in hanging pots or flowerpots, it is necessary to fertilize, since the soil there is quickly depleted and there is nowhere to get minerals.
plant blooms a long period, it is advisable to prolong it by removing the seed pods without waiting for them to dry. This measure will allow new flowers to form at double the speed.
Varieties and varieties
Domestic gardeners and designers use mainly five types of annual nasturtium.
Shield-bearing
In nature, this species is capable of reaching 4 meters in length (lashes). This is a subshrub with succulent shoots and dark green corymbose leaves. The dark-colored red flowers have a diameter of 5-6 centimeters. The shield-bearing species blooms from June until autumn.
A popular variety of the species is Lucifer, its bushes are only 25 centimeters high, and the flowers are very large, red-orange.
Small
The plant is 35 cm high. It has thin stems, and on elongated petioles there are rounded leaves. The difference between this nasturtium is small size flowers, there are a lot of them, the coverage is 3 cm.
The color is usually yellow, and there are dark spots along the petal. There are spurs, the petal is pointed at the end. Beautiful velvety flowers delight the eye for almost four months. Known varieties are Black Velvet (dark burgundy, almost black flowers) and Cherry Rose with terry bright red petals.
Big
A strong, branched plant. In the natural environment it grows up to 2.5 meters in length. There are upright varieties, their height is 70 centimeters. Numerous rounded leaves have a bluish coating on the reverse side.
In more southern regions overwinters in the ground and reproduces by self-sowing. It blooms for a very long time, until autumn.
Quite a lot of varieties of this nasturtium have been bred. Fans are familiar Ladybug(burgundy spots on an apricot background), Salmon Baby – semi-double variety, Peach Melba - cream petals with red spots.
Cultural
This is a hybrid of large and shield-bearing nasturtium, two of the most large species. This and dwarf plants, and bushes, and creeping specimens. Their height varies from 15 to 50 centimeters, depending on the variety.
The well-known varietal species are Moonlight - pale yellow flowers on long vines, Golden Globe - its flowers are double, golden yellow, and the leaves are large (up to 7 cm). The bush is compact, it forms a ball shape, its height is 25-30 cm.
The bush variety Gleming Mahagani has red double flowers, the plant height is 35 centimeters.
Canary
The species is also known as foreign nasturtium. This is a liana, it grows up to 3.5 meters, entwines buildings and arches, gazebos and is good on trellises. The leaves are seven-parted, not very large, and the flowers are bright yellow and small in diameter. The petals are extremely decorative, corrugated with green outgrowths. It blooms, like all species, for a long time.
The following varieties need mention:
- Vesuvius
The pink-salmon color of the petals turns into orange, and there are red spots along the entire surface of the flower. Bush form.
- Day and night
Cream and red flowers are harmoniously combined on one plant. A very effective color scheme can decorate any flower garden. The height of the bush is 30 centimeters.
A climbing variety that grows up to 200 centimeters. The petals are creamy white in color and have yellow spots in the middle. Exclusive view.
- Alaska
Variegated leaves of white and green color give the plant a marbled appearance. The shades of the flowers are different, but Alaska is valued for its unique foliage.
Pests and diseases
Nasturtium is a flower with a scent that repels unwanted insects: whiteflies and cabbage whites, aphids and spider mite. The smell can even repel the Colorado potato beetle.
On the contrary, it attracts pollinating insects, which is beneficial for all other garden plants. This useful neighborhood improves the atmosphere in the garden, literally and figuratively.
To ensure that nasturtium bushes are not affected by rot and rust does not appear on them, it should be treated with insecticidal preparations. Infected areas are removed and burned.
To prevent diseases, spray with a solution of laundry and tar soap, avoid overmoistening.
How nasturtium grows, growing from seeds, when to plant and properly care for the plant - information that gardeners who want to decorate their garden should familiarize themselves with beautiful flowers. This crop is presented in the form of a vine or subshrub, in which the stem is succulent, the leaves are lobed, and the flowers have an irregular shape.
Nasturtium - planting and care
This crop is planted in three ways:
- You can sow planting material directly into open ground, which simplifies the acclimatization of the plant, so the seedlings grow quickly.
- Nasturtium, which can be grown from seeds at home, will bloom faster when grown from seedlings, and the flowers will last a long time. There is a risk of losing seedlings after transplanting from a container to open ground.
- Plant the flower by cuttings using wet sand or water. As a result, you can quickly get roots and transplant the cutting to permanent place Location on. This perfect way for the distribution of exotic varieties.
It is important not only to know how to plant seeds, but also how to grow and care for the plant, so mandatory procedures include:
- Timely watering is of great importance, especially during seedling germination. During flowering, watering is significantly reduced. Spraying is prohibited because the flower loves dry air.
- After the seedlings appear, you need to thin them out, removing small and weak specimens.
- Growing involves regularly loosening the soil and getting rid of weeds.
- It is customary to apply fertilizer once a month, excluding the addition large quantity nitrogenous fertilizers. Potassium and phosphorus supplements should be selected.
- When the flowering phase begins, you need to remove dead flowers in time and then new specimens will appear in their place. Use scissors to cut off shoots and leaves.
How to plant nasturtium seeds for seedlings?
To plant seeds, you can use them, in which you need to put 1-2 seeds. Planting nasturtium seeds for seedlings can be done in pots with special soil, which you can buy or make yourself by mixing some turf soil, sand and peat. Stir the mixture, sift and pour over a hot solution of potassium permanganate. After two days, the mixture can be divided into containers and planting can begin:
- Deepen the seeds by 2 cm. Place 2-3 seeds in each container.
- Press the soil a little on top and water everything with a watering can with a nozzle. You can use a spray bottle.
- Place the pots on a sunny windowsill.
When to plant nasturtium seedlings?
The seeds of this plant can be for a long time store as they remain viable for 4-5 years. If you are interested in when to sow nasturtium seedlings, then it is important to know that the most suitable period is from the end of April to the beginning of May. In addition, recommendations for each variety should be taken into account, since some species do not tolerate frost.
How to germinate nasturtium seeds for seedlings?
Before planting, it is recommended to carry out preliminary preparation planting material to speed up the emergence of seedlings. How nasturtium germinates, growing from seeds, when to plant - all this important information for reference, to get powerful and flowering bushes.
- Sort through the seeds, removing small and damaged specimens.
- Before planting seeds, to disinfect them they should be placed in a strong solution of potassium permanganate for 10-15 minutes. or in hot water (no more than 50°C).
- To soak nasturtium seeds in water, they should be placed in gauze and immersed in water for a day. Seedlings may require longer germination.
Planting nasturtium seeds in the ground
On outdoors the flower can be planted in pots and flower beds. For climbing species need support. For growing nasturtium and caring for open ground it's important to choose loamy soil, which must be drained. If there is a lot of fertilizer in the ground, then powerful leaves will develop to the detriment of flowering. Proper growth requires regular watering, fertilization every three weeks, and removal of faded flowers.
How to plant nasturtium in open ground?
In order for the plant to develop well and delight with its color, you need to choose a well-lit area with fertile soil for planting. Many people are interested in when to plant nasturtium in the ground, so in the southern regions you can sow seeds directly at the end of May. It is imperative to soak the planting material. Instructions on what nasturtium needs, growing from seeds, when to plant and properly care for it, includes the following rules:
- The area should be dug up, loosened and fertilizer added. Use some compost, wood ash and...
- There should be a distance of 25-30 cm between plantings. Place 2-3 seeds in each hole, deepening them by 2.3 cm.
- If everything was done according to the rules and the seeds were good, then the seedlings will appear in 14 days. Flowering occurs in 40-50 days.
Diseases – nasturtiums
The plant is known for repelling different insects: whitefly, aphids, Colorado potato beetles and cabbageweed. If nasturtium is not cared for correctly, diseases may appear, which can be eliminated by removing infected leaves and treating the bushes with special chemical or bacteriological agents.
- Bacterial wilt, in which the lower leaves deteriorate, and then the entire plant disappears.
- When cultivation does not proceed correctly, a mosaic infection is possible, in which a mosaic pattern can be seen on the leaves.
- appears as gray-brown spots on the leaves.
- If nasturtium suffers from rust, then small brown or black spots form, which turn into tubercles.
- With ring spotting, small dots are visible on the leaves, surrounded by a red-brown border.
Calendula (marigold) is a flower that stands out among others with its bright color. Low bushes with delicate orange inflorescences can be found on the side of the road, in the meadow, in the front garden next to the house or even in vegetable beds. Calendula is so widespread in our area that it seems like it has always grown here. About interesting decorative varieties calendula, as well as about the use of calendula in cooking and medicine, read our article.
I think many will agree that we perceive the wind well only in a romantic aspect: we are sitting in a cozy, warm house, and the wind is raging outside the window... In fact, the wind blowing through our areas is a problem and there is nothing good about it. By creating windbreaks with plants, we break strong wind into several weak streams and significantly weaken its destructive power. How to protect a site from the wind will be discussed in this article.
Modern ferns are those rare plants antiquities, which, despite the passage of time and all kinds of cataclysms, not only survived, but were also largely able to preserve their former appearance. Of course, it is not possible to grow any of the fern representatives indoors, but some species have successfully adapted to life indoors. They look great as single plants or decorate a group of decorative foliage flowers.
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Pumpkin ginger marmalade is a warming sweet that can be prepared almost all year round. Pumpkin keeps for a long time - sometimes I manage to save a few vegetables until summer, fresh ginger and lemons are always available these days. Lemon can be replaced with lime or orange to create different flavors - variety in sweets is always nice. The finished marmalade is placed in dry jars; it can be stored at room temperature, but it is always healthier to prepare fresh products.
In 2014, the Japanese company Takii seed introduced petunia with a striking petal color - salmon-orange. By association with bright colors southern sunset sky, the unique hybrid is called African Sunset. Needless to say, this petunia instantly won the hearts of gardeners and was in great demand. But in the last two years, the curiosity has suddenly disappeared from store windows. Where did the orange petunia go?
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Planting and caring for nasturtium (in brief)
- Landing: sowing seeds in open ground in mid-late May or sowing seeds for seedlings in April, followed by planting seedlings in the ground in the first ten days of June.
- Lighting: bright sunlight.
- The soil: light, not too fertile, well drained, slightly acidic.
- Watering: from the beginning of the growing season - regular and abundant, during flowering - as the soil dries out.
- Feeding: Once a week before flowering begins, use potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. No nitrogen needed. From the beginning of flowering, feeding is stopped.
- Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
- Pests: aphids, cabbage moths, whites, spider mites.
- Diseases: gray mold, rust, viral mosaic, black ring spot and bacterial wilt.
Read more about growing nasturtium below.
Nasturtium flower - description
Nasturtiums, both annual and perennial, are often vines with succulent stems, and sometimes subshrubs. The leaves are most often lobed, alternate, entire, palmate or thyroid. Flowers – simple, double and semi-double – irregular shape, fragrant, zygomorphic, bisexual, axillary, consisting of five (sometimes more) petals, as many sepals, funnel-shaped tubes with nectar. The color of the flowers is most often red or yellow. The fruit consists of three wrinkled kidney-shaped lobes, in each of which round, kidney-shaped seeds ripen. Both flowers and stems have healing properties, and are also of interest to culinary specialists.
Types and varieties of nasturtium
In the wild, in its homeland, perennial nasturtium grows, but in our gardens the tropical beauty cannot remain in the ground for the winter, so it is grown as an annual. Of the cultivated species of nasturtium, the most commonly grown are:
Nasturtium foreign, or Canarian
– liana from South America, whose light green stems reach a length of 350 cm and very quickly weave arbors and trellises. It blooms from mid-summer until frost with bright yellow small flowers with corrugated petals and green spurs. The leaves are medium-sized, five- or seven-parted. Seeds in the middle zone do not have time to ripen naturally.
– very branched, bare, fragile stems reach a length of 250 cm. If the variety is erect and not creeping, then the stem grows up to 70 cm in height. Blooms profusely from June until autumn frosts. It reproduces well by self-sowing, the seeds do not lose their viability for up to 4 years. The leaves are asymmetrical, large, rounded, thyroid-shaped, the surface is light green, the underside is glaucous, the petioles are long, the diameter is about 8 cm. The species is represented by dozens of varieties, including compact bush forms:
- – King Theodore – bright red flowers;
- – Peach Melba – cream flowers with red spots in the center;
- – Salmon Baby – semi-double, salmon-colored flowers;
- – Ladybug – apricot-colored flowers with burgundy spots in the middle.
Nasturtium cultivated
– combines hybrids of shield-bearing nasturtium and large nasturtium, the stems are densely leafy, the leaves are green or purple, thyroid. Varieties of this species differ in shape and height: there are compact varieties of nasturtium (up to 50 cm in height), creeping ones, with shoots up to 4 m long, or dwarf varieties - 15-20 cm in height. Varieties:
- – Gleming Mahagani – bush up to 37 cm tall with double red flowers;
- – Golden Globe is a spherical bush up to 25 cm high and 40 cm wide with round light green leaves and large (up to 6.5 cm in diameter) double golden-yellow flowers;
- – Moonlight is a climbing plant, the stems of which reach two meters in length, the flowers are pale yellow.
Small nasturtium
– branched, grooved thin stems up to 35 cm tall, the leaves of nasturtium minor are rounded, small, shield-shaped, the petioles are very long and thin. Small flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, yellow in color with dark spots, the three upper velvety petals are pointed along the edge, the spurs are cylindrical, curved. This type of nasturtium blooms from June to October. Varieties:
- – Cherry rose – grows up to 30 cm in height, blooms bright red double flowers;
- – Black corduroy – the same 30 cm in height, simple flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, so dark burgundy in color that they are almost black. This variety is sometimes called Black Lady.
Nasturtium shieldbearing
- a creeping subshrub, the dark green, succulent and fragile shoots of which reach 4 m in length. The leaves are thyroid-shaped, dark green. The flowers are a juicy dark red hue. It blooms from June to October, the seeds ripen well. The most common variety:
- – Lucifer – erect bushes up to 25 cm tall, shoots light green, leaves large, dark green with a dark red tint. The flowers are simple, up to 6 cm in diameter, red-orange.
Among other types of nasturtium, distinguished by their decorative properties, one can name nasturtium azure, ciliated, many-leaved, beautiful, tricolor and others, but, unfortunately, few can boast of experience in growing these species in our climate zone.
Growing nasturtium from seeds
Sowing nasturtium seeds.
Nasturtium propagates by seed, and even a beginner can cope with it. Large seeds Nasturtiums are sown directly in open ground in mid- or late May, when the last frosts have passed. Nasturtium seeds are placed in holes up to two centimeters deep, located at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, in a nesting manner - 3-4 pieces per hole. If there is a possibility of nighttime drops in temperature, cover the sown area with plastic film or other covering material and use for watering only warm water. In a week or two, shoots will appear.
Nasturtium seedlings.
Nasturtium is also grown in seedlings, which allows for earlier flowering than in the case of sowing seeds directly into the ground. For this they use peat cups or cups with a retractable bottom, into which 2-3 seeds are sown at a depth of 2 cm in April-May. The temperature in the room with seedlings should be 20-22 ºC. Shoots will appear in a couple of weeks. Make sure that the seedlings have enough light, because the lack of lighting makes them stretch out, and after planting on the site they get sick for a long time and do not bloom. Root system Nasturtium is weak, and the leaf surface is quite large, therefore, in order not to injure the roots, the seedlings are not picked and transplanted into the soil along with a lump of earth, right in a cup.
Planting nasturtium
When to plant nasturtium.
Nasturtium is planted in the first ten days of June. Find a place in your garden that is well-lit and protected from the wind, since nasturtiums do not bloom as profusely in the shade as they do in good lighting. The soil on the site should be slightly acidic, with good drainage, light and fertile. On soils rich in organic matter, the plants turn lushly green, but do not want to bloom; on soils that are too poor, the flowering of nasturtium is not so beautiful, the leaves are small, and the stems look bare. In stagnant, moist soils, nasturtium rots.
How to plant nasturtium.
So, it’s the beginning of June, it’s time to plant the seedlings in open ground. Planting of seedlings is carried out together with a ball of earth, and if you sowed seeds in peat pots, then directly with the pots to avoid breaking or breaking the fragile roots. Depending on the variety of nasturtium, the distance between specimens should be 20-40 cm. At first, it is advisable to cover the planting at night. Nasturtiums will bloom in a month and a half.
Nasturtium - care
How to care for nasturtium.
Caring for nasturtium involves weeding the area and watering the plants. If you mulch the bed after planting, you won’t have to fight weeds. At the very beginning of growth, regular and abundant watering, when the nasturtium blooms, you should water the area only when the soil dries out: if the soil is wet all the time, the plant will be lushly green, but there will be few flowers. It is necessary to promptly remove dried flowers, unless you need the seeds, but to collect the seeds at next year, it is enough to leave just a few ovaries to ripen. Feed nasturtium weekly potassium-phosphorus fertilizer until it blooms. Nitrogen fertilizers No nasturtiums will be needed.
Propagation of nasturtium.
Except seed method To propagate nasturtium, they also use a vegetative method - cuttings. Cuttings are rooted in wet sand or water. Most often this is how they reproduce terry varieties nasturtium or new ones, the seeds of which are difficult to find in flower shops. Vegetative method allows you to preserve species and varietal characteristics during propagation.
Pests and diseases of nasturtium.
Nasturtium is not only beautiful, but also very useful. Plus she somehow inspires fear Colorado potato beetles, whiteflies, aphids, cabbageweeds and other insect pests. But diseases sometimes affect nasturtium, primarily such as bacterial wilt, which is expressed in weakening lower leaves, and then withering of the entire plant. Or gray rot, which appears as dry brown spots on the leaves. From time to time, brown or black rust spots or variegated mosaic stains appear on nasturtium leaves. If affected by these diseases, infected specimens must be removed and burned, and healthy plants treat with special preparations that destroy pathogens.
How to collect nasturtium seeds
If you want to do some breeding, you can collect nasturtium seeds yourself. As the flowers fade, the seeds ripen. It must be remembered that the seeds of all types of nasturtium have time to ripen before frost, the only exception being foreign nasturtium. When the seeds ripen, they turn from green to whitish and, easily separated from the peduncle, fall to the ground. Therefore, be careful and try to collect them before they fall off. Store ripe seeds in cardboard boxes. Foreign nasturtium seeds are collected unripe and ripened at home.
Nasturtium after flowering
After the nasturtium fades, watering is gradually reduced until it stops completely. Since nasturtium is grown primarily as annual plant, then with the onset of autumn you need to deal with it as with an annual plant, namely: dig up the area, burn the tops, having first collected the seeds, if there is such a need.
Nasturtium - medicinal properties
Nasturtiums are not only beautiful, but also edible and medicinal. The leaves and flowers of young plants are used as ingredients in salads, used to decorate dishes, and added to sandwiches and soups. Pickled nasturtium fruits taste like expensive capers. And dried and ground seeds can be used as a seasoning instead of black pepper, at least this was done during the Second World War. All parts of the plant are edible except the roots.
The healing properties of nasturtium have also been known for a long time. It treats skin rashes, stimulates hair growth, and helps with anemia, vitamin deficiency, and kidney stones. The plant has proven itself well as a means of combating scurvy, since the amount of vitamin C in it is ten times greater than in lettuce leaves. In addition, nasturtium contains substances that successfully fight microbes - provitamin A and phytoncides. Dishes prepared from nasturtium are included in the therapeutic diet for metabolic disorders in older people and atherosclerosis. Rhizomes tuberous species nasturtiums contain substances that lower testosterone levels in the blood, which may be necessary in certain cases. Modern science has established that nasturtium has the following properties valuable for medicine: anti-inflammatory, laxative, diuretic, diuretic, antiseptic, antibiotic, antiscorbutic, uroseptic, expectorant. However, you should be aware that an overdose of nasturtium provokes irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.