.In the warm climate of South America, where the nasturtium comes from, these plants are more often grown as perennials, which give lush flower caps almost all year round. But to survive the Russian winters can neither powerful stalks nor fleshy roots. Therefore, culture is well known to domestic gardeners as a spectacular annual, pleasing flowering for almost the entire summer. The first buds on the nasturtium, the planting of which with seeds or seedlings is not so difficult even for a novice grower, appear in the middle of June or in July, and the last flowers under the wave of autumn frosts.
In order for the plant to produce a green mass earlier and enter the time of flowering, it is necessary:
- to correctly select a site for planting for nasturtium;
- provide seedlings with proper care, including watering and fertilizing;
- protect the stems, flowers and leaves from pests and diseases.
Much depends on the planting material.
Common nasturtiums are propagated by seeds, which ripen in temperate climates and can be used for sowing next season.
Place for planting nasturtiums in the garden.
Both shrub and curly forms of nasturtium prefer light, well-aerated soils with a moderate nutrient content and low acidity. The nasturtium in the garden, planted on depleted soils, can be easily distinguished by stretched internodes, small leaves, and corolla of flowers.
The high density of soil rich in organic matter can play a bad trick to the florist. Not only will the seeds experience serious difficulties with germination, and the young plant will begin to “fatten”, giving a lot of foliage, not flowers. If the soil with a high content of clay or black soil is also excessively moistened, the roots of the nasturtium quickly rot and the plant dies.
The best choice of a site for planting nasturtiums is sandy loam or loam with good drainage, regular watering and dressing, if necessary.
There is a well-known saying about “feet warm and head cold.”Do nasturtiums all the way around. With all the love of this culture for heat and light, it is important to choose a place so that the roots of the plant are shaded. But the foliage and flowers, caught in the sun, will be able to express themselves in full force, especially if you protect them from wind and possible frosts.
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The trellis fence, garden fence or wall of the outbuilding can be used as a support for climbing and climbing nasturtium types. Spray forms are good in flower beds, and ampelous forms - in hanging pots or decorative flowerpots.
Planting Methods for Nasturtium
There are three main methods for planting and growing nasturtium:
- Obtaining nasturtium from seeds simplifies the process of plant acclimatization, seedlings grow easily in heated soil and actively grow.
- The seedling method of planting a crop allows you to bring flowering closer and make it longer, but there is a risk of losing seedlings after transfer to the soil.
- By cuttings, which in wet sand or water quickly give roots and are ready for planting at a permanent place in the garden. This method is indispensable when you can not get the seeds of an exotic species or a new variety.
In addition, some types of nasturtium form tubers suitable for winter storage at temperatures close to zero and spring planting in the ground.
Growing Nasturtium from
Seeds 
Most types of cultivated nasturtium can be grown from seed, bypassing the seedling stage. This method saves a lot of time and effort. Nasturtium, the cultivation and care of which begins with the seeds, initially develops in the open field and is not ill. The only negative is that you can see the blooming nasturtium in the garden only by the middle of summer.
And sometimes gardeners complain that the seeds do not want to hatch. This may be due to:
- of poor quality or the immaturity of the seed itself;
- too cold ground at the time of planting nasturtium;
- excess moisture in the soil;
- strong seed penetration;
- high density soil at the location selected for the nasturtium.
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In order to avoid these troubles, before sowing, seeds are lowered for a quarter of an hour into water from 40 to 50 ° C and then soaked for another day. It activates the sprout and softens the dense surface peel.
Nasturtium planting is carried out in May, only in sufficiently heated soil. In located at a distance of 20-30 cm in the hole to a depth of 2 cm is lowered by two or three seeds.
Shoots of nasturtiums do not tolerate cold snaps and for the time of frost they need protection with the help of shelters made of film or nonwoven material. The same method, like watering with warm water, will make the plants grow faster.
Planting nasturtium seedlings for early blooming It is even better if peat tablets or pots are used for planting nasturtium.
- Sowing in April or early May is carried out to a depth of not only 2 cm, 2-3 seeds per well.
- Landings should be provided with an air temperature of about +22 ° C.
- When the seedlings appear in two weeks, the temperature slightly, up to +18 ° C, reduces and organizes the sprouts for good lighting.
It is possible to transfer plants to the garden if the threat of frost is over. This most often happens by mid-May, less often in June. If after landing the nasturtium is waiting for bad weather or cool nights, it is better to protect the plantation with covering material.
A gardener can make the first photos of the nasturtium flowers a month and a half after planting the seedlings in the ground. Flowering will end only with the onset of stable cold.
Growing and caring for nasturtium during summer
It is not difficult to care for nasturtium in the summer months. The plant requires only regular, but moderate watering and removal of weeds in the root zone. If you take care of mulch loosened soil in advance, then both mandatory measures are much simpler and less frequent.
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The mode and method of irrigation for nasturtiums is chosen so that moisture does not stand and does not remain on the green during the hot day. Otherwise, instead of good, watering may lead to rotting of the roots and sunburn of foliage and flowers.
The lack of water in growing and caring nasturtium causes a disproportionate lengthening and weakening of the stems, chopping and yellowing of the leaves, massive shedding of flowers and buds. You can support a weakened plant with mineral dressing, as well as regular pruning of old and dry stems, removal of faded leaves and rims.
If signs of diseases or traces of pests are found at the nasturtium, the damaged parts of the plant are removed and destroyed, and the crown is treated with insecticides or other preparations.
Collection of Nasturtium Seeds in the Garden
Many types of nasturtium common in Russia, besides foreign, give suitable seeds for planting. It is not at all difficult to collect the fruits with three seeds under the thick folded skin that form on the site of the calyx.
If you look at the nasturtium and the photo of flowers, you can see how, increasing in size, the fruits change color from bright green to pale. It is a process of ripening, and then ready for germination, seeds with dried peels fall off and remain viable for at least four years.
When to collect nasturtium seeds to prevent their unauthorized seeding? Indeed, unlike the stems and leaves, the seeds of the nasturtium are not afraid of frost and will surely grow into growth even in the fall, but they will not be able to winter the sprouts.
The average period of fruit ripening on cultivated species is 40 days after the appearance of the flower. When collecting guided by this term. If the coming frosts make the green seeds to be plucked, they can be made to ripen, drying and stirring at room temperature for 1–2 months.
Amazing Nasturtium Flower -
Video
