
Nasturtium
Nasturtium: plant 30 cm (12 in) apart in the row and 30 cm (12 in) between rows, 1 per square. Good neighbours: Apple tree, Pear tree, Plum tree.
Key facts
| Spacing in the row | 30 cm (12 in) |
|---|---|
| Between rows | 30 cm (12 in) |
| In a 30 cm (1 ft) square | 1 per square |
| Sun | Full sun, 6–8 hours a day |
| Root depth | 15 cm (6 in) |
| Height when grown | 50 cm (20 in) |
| Crop rotation group | Herbs, flowers and perennials |
| Support | None needed |
Sowing and germination
| How it is started | Sown straight into the bed |
|---|---|
| Seeds per hole | 3 |
| Plants kept after thinning | 1 |
| Seeds per metre of row | 10 |
| Sowing depth | 2 cm (0.8 in) |
| Soil temperature | from 13 °C, best 18–24 °C |
| Days to emerge | 7–14 days |
| Light while germinating | Needs darkness, cover well |
| Before sowing | nothing needed |
| When to sow | Indoors 6 weeks before the last frost; outdoors after the last frost; soil at least 13 °C |
From seedling to plant
| Pricking out | sown where it grows |
|---|---|
| Takes transplanting | Badly, sow where it grows |
| Hardening off | 7–10 days |
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Cold tolerance | Tender, hurt by frost |
| Soil | Light, sandy, free draining, pH 6–7.5 |
| In a pot | 5 L, 20 cm (7.9 in) |
| Watering | Water when the soil is dry two fingers down |
| Feeding | Little; at planting |
| Support and training | None needed; pinch the tips |
Harvest and planning
| Days to first harvest | 45–60 days, from sowing |
|---|---|
| Ready when | The flowers are just open |
| Harvest window | Picked again and again, 10–16 weeks |
| Typical yield | 0.2–0.6 kg per plant |
| Botanical family | Tropaeolaceae |
| Watch out for | Aphids, powdery mildew |
Good neighbours
Apple tree◐
Pear tree◐
Plum tree◐
Cherry tree◐
Sour cherry tree◐
Apricot tree◐
Peach tree◐
Quince tree◐
Walnut tree◐
Hazelnut tree◐
Almond tree◐
Fig tree◐
Olive tree◐
Lemon tree◐
Orange tree◐
Pomegranate tree◐
Persimmon tree◐
Mulberry tree◐
Nectarine tree◐
Sweet chestnut tree◐
Mandarin tree◐
Clementine tree◐
Grapefruit tree◐
Lime tree◐
Pomelo tree◐
Kumquat tree◐
Medlar tree◐
Loquat tree◐
Pistachio tree◐
Avocado tree◐
Mango tree◐
Banana plant◐
Pineapple
Papaya◐
Cassava◐
Taro
Passion fruit◐
Guava◐
Dragon fruit◐
Tomato◐
Cherry tomato◐
Beefsteak tomato◐
Plum tomato (Roma)
Cucumber◐
Cabbage
Red cabbage
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Kohlrabi
Kale
Pak choi
Savoy cabbage
Pointed cabbage
Romanesco
Chinese cabbage
Collard greens
Broccoli rabe
◐ good with a condition · Why, with the sources →
Plan Nasturtium in your garden
Open the free planner, drop Nasturtium onto a bed and see how many plants fit.
Start Planning Your GardenSowing and harvest
| Sow outdoors | May |
|---|---|
| Harvest | Jun–Oct |
My dates for this crop
Give the date once and this page, the sowing calendar and the planner all follow it.
- Not recommended
- Marginal
- Conditional
- Favourable
Months for a temperate climate: about a month later in the north and a month earlier in the south. Give your own last frost date for exact dates.
Grown much the same way
Crops that need about the same room and care, from another family.