Nasturtium: varieties, growing and uses

A variety for your position

Empress of India combines dark leaves with red. Alaska puts cream-variegated foliage centre stage. Jewel of Africa uses that variegation on long vines: useful for a taller support or a large hanging cascade. The difference therefore lies in the space the plant eventually occupies, as well as the colour on the packet.

How to guide the tendrils

Add support before broad growth. Use thin slats or mesh gripped by leaf stalks. Guide young shoots gently; never forcibly untangle older plants. Pots beside edges may trail freely. Leave enough bottom access for watering.

Look at the plant

Inspect leaf undersides for aphids and substantial caterpillar damage. Some visitors belong in living gardens; severely affected pots need attention. Promise no total vegetable-pest protection from this flower. Choose growth, colour and edible flowers where appropriate to enrich the garden.

Harvesting and saving seed

Pick with clean fingers and inspect flowers for insects. Save seed dry, cool and labelled. Offspring can differ, so retain original names for special colours in journals too. Next year deliberately choose repeat purchases or the surprise of saved seed.

Scent, flavour and use

Flowers and leaves of correctly identified Tropaeolum majus are edible. The flavour is peppery and resembles garden cress; petals are milder. Use only unsprayed plants grown for consumption.

Care, cutting and harvesting

Sow in pots or directly into warmed soil. Provide sun and well-drained soil that is not excessively rich. Plant young, hardened-off plants outside once the risk of frost has passed. Water at the base during dry weather.

Remove faded flowers for a tidy plant. Shorten trailing stems locally where they cover a path. Not a permanent winter plant: do not protect it as a hardy perennial species.

Pick fresh flowers just before use. For sowing seed, allow a few flowers to develop and collect the ripe seeds before they fall to the ground.