Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus 'Jewel Mix'
flowerA cheerful climbing and trailing annual with round, edible leaves and bright trumpet-shaped flowers in orange, red, and yellow. One of the most versatile companion plants — edible, beautiful, and a workhorse for pest control in the vegetable garden.
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Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 3 days
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Bloom
~55 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
10-12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/2 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-8.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Do not fertilize; rich soil and excess nitrogen cause all leaves and no flowers
Fertilizer
None — lean poor soil is preferred
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow after last frost — nasturtiums do not like to be transplanted. Actually prefer poor soil; rich soil produces lush leaves at the expense of flowers. Full sun to partial shade. Virtually no care needed once established. Will self-seed in mild climates.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
🌸
Projected first bloom
Jun 9
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Cucumbers — Acts as a trap crop for aphids and deters cucumber beetles
- Squash — Lures aphids away from the crop and deters squash bugs
- Tomatoes — Trap crop for aphids; brings in beneficial predators
- Brassicas — Repels aphids and cabbage caterpillars; draws in caterpillar predators
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Nasturtiums are a classic sacrificial aphid trap crop; aphids colonize them heavily while beneficials follow — do not spray the nasturtiums
Interplant among cucurbits as a deterrent and decoy
Trap crop effect; plant at the entry points to the vegetable garden
🌸 Blooms & cutting
All parts are edible — flowers, leaves, and immature seed pods. Flowers have a peppery, slightly sweet flavor excellent in salads. Young seed pods can be pickled as a caper substitute. Harvest as needed; the plant produces continuously.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Leaves and flowers contain vitamin C and lutein, an antioxidant that supports eye health. The seeds are rich in glucosinolates with antimicrobial properties. Used in folk medicine as a natural antibiotic.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.