The Simple Pleasure of Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are one of my favorite garden flowers.  If you plant them near tomatoes and peppers, they'll help keep pests away because the critters don't like their hot flavor.  They will also add color and contrasting height to your vegetable garden.  Nasturtiums are delicious in salads and you can eat both the flowers and the leaves.  If you're like me, then you'll eat them like candy when you walk through your garden in the morning.

Nasturtiums can be direct sown in full sun or started in pots a month before you plan to set them out.  Once the weather warms up, they'll take off.  They're also available in long trailing vines or as compact bushy plants so choose your varieties carefully.  When you plant Nasturtium seeds, you have to "scar" them.  This means that the exterior of the seed is so tough that the seedling can't break through it without help.  A bit of rubbing on sandpaper usually does the trick.

Technically, Nasturtiums are classified as an herb because they were used medicinally in medieval times.  The early settlers brought them to America with them.   

Nasturtiums and fresh greens from my Spring garden make for a KILLER salad!

Nasturtiums and Marigolds work together to keep pests away from my tomato garden.

I topped this chocolate cake with fresh spearmint and nasturtiums for a fun summer treat.