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The Daily Insight

When should I buy nasturtiums?

Author

James Craig

Updated on April 18, 2026

It's better to sow seeds directly in the garden in April or May, until as late as July. Nasturtium seeds germinate and grow rapidly in warm soils. Young plants are also available to purchase in summer.

Herein, what time of year do you plant nasturtiums?

Sow from March to May, outside where they are to flower. They will flower from the summer through to the autumn.

Beside above, what month do you plant nasturtium seeds? You can sow seeds thinly outdoors where you want the plants to flower from March to May. Prepare the soil well with added compost or other soil improver and rake to a fine tilth before sowing. Thin out to 15-30cm (6-12in) apart when large enough to handle.

Regarding this, do nasturtiums come back every year?

They germinate quickly, grow quickly too, and the flamboyant flowers are large and colourful. But while the familiar nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual, it can also be grown from cuttings.

Are nasturtiums frost hardy?

Nasturtiums may survive very light frosts, but they are easily damaged by freezing temperatures.

Related Question Answers

Do nasturtiums like sun or shade?

Nasturtiums do well in poorer soils and do not typically need extra fertilizer (unless your soil is extremely poor). Too much nitrogen will encourage more foliage than flowers. Soil should be well-draining. Plant nasturtiums in full sun (6–8 hours of sunlight) for the best results.

How high will nasturtiums climb?

10 feet

Do Nasturtiums flower all year?

Nasturtiums will self seed, so they will come back year after year. Sow seeds directly in a sunny or partly shady area of your garden in the spring or summer. Once established, nasturtiums don't need much water or care. Growing nasturtiums is easy and creates a colorful addition to your garden and your plate.

Are nasturtiums poisonous to dogs?

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant that is used as an herbal supplement and flavor enhancer. It is mildly noxious and may cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet.

Will nasturtiums climb?

Nasturtium plants are easy to grow and may be climbing, cascading, or bushy. Care of nasturtiums is minimal; in fact, nasturtium plants are one of those specimens that thrive on neglect. Use nasturtium flowers as a spiller in window boxes and hanging baskets.

Do nasturtiums self seed?

Don't forget flowers either – annuals such as cornflowers (bachelor's buttons), calendula, nasturtiums and poached egg plant, together with biennials such as foxgloves, honesty and teasel are all robust self-seeders that are loved by wildlife too.

How fast do nasturtiums grow?

After the seeds germinate, nasturtiums take between 35 and 52 days to flower, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Shorter varieties will begin to flower sooner than tall, rambling varieties, since tall varieties will undergo vegetative growth longer before producing flowers.

What is the fastest growing ground cover?

The most attractive flowering fast-growing ground covers for full sun are phlox, creeping thyme, or rock cress. Some remarkable examples of flowering shade-loving ground covers are sweet woodruff, periwinkle, and lilyturf.

Do nasturtiums bloom all summer?

Know Your Nasturtiums

They can appear in many different colors, like red, orange, cream and yellow among others, and they usually bloom from summer to fall. They tend to have a rather spicy fragrance and normally appear as either climbers or sprawling bushes.

Why do nasturtiums turn yellow?

Lack of Water

Nasturtiums prefer loamy or sandy soils and you must keep the soil moist. A lack of water will cause the leaves to turn yellow. When nasturtiums are stressed, they're also more likely to be attacked by aphids. The leaves turn yellow as their roots die.

What part of nasturtiums can you eat?

Which part of nasturtiums are edible? All parts of nasturtiums (pronounced na-stir-tchums) are edible. Their name literally means nose twister or nose tweaker, because of their peppery kick. The flowers are sweet and the leaves, flowers and seeds all have that spicy flavour.

Can nasturtiums be grown in hanging baskets?

Nasturtium is a genus of seven plant species that comes from the cabbage family – and it has been singled out as being ideal options for those who are looking for something to populate hanging baskets with.

What are nasturtiums good for?

Nasturtiums are plants that are often used as trap crops for attracting aphids or squash bugs. Nasturtium companion plants can draw such pests away from vegetable plants like tomato and squash. They also attract good bugs such as pollinators and hoverflies, a predator of common pests like aphids.

Do nasturtiums have deep roots?

Planting Nasturtiums

Nasturtium seeds are large, about the size of a dried pea, and need to planted fairly deep in the soil. Nasturtiums produce a taproot and don't like to have their roots disturbed, which is why direct sowing the seeds is often recommended.

Are nasturtiums good for bees?

Nasturtiums are known to be attractive to bumblebees as a source of both pollen and nectar, and the flower shape provides a landing platform for insects. Nasturtiums perform well in poor soil, so it will be interesting to see what effect the feeds have on flowering, and nectar and pollen production.

Do nasturtiums die in summer?

Dies back over summer. To brighten a dull corner in winter or screen a bare fence or deciduous shrub. Prefers a warm, sheltered spot in full sun or part shade, with wet winters and dry summers i.e. Mediterranean climate. Best in well-drained soil; needs to be dry over summer.

Should I soak nasturtium seeds before planting?

Some gardeners like to soak nasturtium seeds before planting to speed germination. If you do, remember to soak them no longer than eight hours to avoid losing your seed to rot. Nasturtiums like sandy, well-draining soil without too many nutrients, but they do like ample water.

How much water do nasturtiums need?

Nasturtiums do benefit from regular irrigation. Water given once or twice weekly, when the top 1 inch of soil begins to dry, is usually sufficient. Provide enough water to moisten the soil to a 6-inch depth. Although it's not necessary to prune nasturtiums, they may spread and become invasive if allowed to set seed.

Do slugs like nasturtiums?

If you want to keep slugs away from spring-flowering Primula (Primrose) surround them with jolly Narcissus (Daffodils) and Nasturtiums. These are plants which slugs seem to prefer.

How do you get seeds from nasturtiums?

Nasturtium seed saving is almost as easy as collecting the seeds. Just spread the seeds on a paper plate or paper towel and leave them until they're completely brown and dry. Ripe seeds will dry within a few days, but green nasturtium seeds will take much longer. Don't rush the process.

How do you get nasturtiums to flower?

Needs more heat: Nasturtiums start blooming when spring temperatures rise. In more northern areas, nasturtiums may not begin to bloom until summer. Again, give them another week of high temperatures and you can expect flowers to develop soon.

How big do nasturtiums get?

1 to 10 feet tall

Are nasturtiums perennial or annual?

Nasturtium is an easy-to-grow annual. Nasturium is an easy-to-grow, warm-season annual (perennial in zones 9 -11) with distinctive leaves and brightly colored flowers.

Do nasturtiums survive winter?

Nasturtiums may survive very light frosts, but they are easily damaged by freezing temperatures.

Can I plant nasturtiums with tomatoes?

Marigolds (not to be confused with the edible, decorative calendula, or pot marigold) and nasturtiums are particularly excellent companions for tomatoes.

How do you overwinter nasturtiums?

If you're growing your plants in containers, then either bring them indoors or wrap them with a floating row cover and move to a sheltered spot. If you don't have access to row covers, you can use a cardboard box to protect your plants from frost. Find a box that covers the whole plant and place it over the top.

Do hummingbirds like nasturtiums?

For the sweet nectar, handsome spur, bright yellow-to-red colors, and large flowers, we can thank hummingbirds, the main pollinator of nasturtiums. Hummingbirds perceive red better than bees do and respond to bright colors and large floral displays.