Nasturtiums

circleoflifeunlimited

Hey friends,

Wanted to share some research on nasturtiums.  Amazing and beautiful plant allies!  Here are just a few tidbits about them, with links at the bottom.  I chose to follow links that would most likely have some research behind them. 

Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.)

Nasturtiums prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and bacterial infections, stave off respiratory conditions, urinary

diseases and muscle pain, keep digestive issues, reproductive conditions and diabetes, benefits the immune,

cardiovascular, muscular and digestive systems, support the ocular, respiratory and both the male and female reproductive

systems.

 

Also repels whiteflies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage loopers. Nasturtiums are great for companion

planting. They release an airborne chemical that repels predacious insects, protecting not just the nasturtium but other

plants nearby. Many of the insects nasturtiums repel favor vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, collards,

broccoli, cabbage and radishes.... so they are an ideal choice for planting along the edges of and mixed in with your

vegetable gardens.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29766690

https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/nasturtiums

https://www.botanical-online.com/en/medicinal-plants/nasturtium-properties

https://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/nasturtium-flower-butter-and-nasturtium-caper-recipes

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-526/nasturtium

https://themicrogardener.com/20-reasons-to-grow-this-amazing-herb/

https://www.naturalpedia.com/nasturtium-sources-health-benefits-nutrients-uses-and-constituents-at-naturalpedia-com.html

https://www.permablitz.net/hero-of-the-month/nasturtium/

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Nasturtiums-in-Food

herbantherapy

I love nasturtiums but every time I grow them they barely get started before the fall rains rot them away. My neighbors and community gardens have them overflowing and super abundant! Are they heavy feeders? I’m not ver good at getting around to fertilize.

Tell me how to grow these beauties! Please!

JodieDownUnder

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/843719#Comment_843719

I usually put the seeds where i want them to grow, mostly right along the edge of a garden bed, that way not taking up too much room. Just treat them like the rest of the vegie garden. If you plant them in good soil to start with they shouldn't need too much more. Pretty hardy and fuss free.

merlin44

They add lovely color to salads also.

herbantherapy

Yes! @merlin44 not only pretty but a nice peppery flavor too💕

Jimerson

Thank you @circleoflifeunlimited ! I learned something new today. I love their color, and I'll be planting these all around the house next Spring!

cre8tiv369

I absolutely love Nasturtiums, the flowers and leaves add an awesome water cress like flavor to salads and sandwiches. The flowers are beautiful and attract tons of pollinators to the garden. They are incredibly easy to grow in ground or containers, they can climb like a vine, spread like a ground cover, cascade/droop out of containers, or be trimmed like a bush. They are fun, delicious, useful, and one of my top 5 favorite plants. I always have them growing in my yard, garden, or greenhouse.

circleoflifeunlimited

Recently I learned that you can dry nasturtium leaves and flowers to turn them into a powder for use in smoothies in the winter. I'll try it!

JodieDownUnder

Nasturtium leaves make awesome pesto! So if you don't have fresh basil, try nasturtium next time.

Obiora E

I enjoy eating and growing heirloom Nasturtiums from seed. I have used them as companion plants for the squash family, beans, etc. for some years.

Thank you for sharing. I didn't realize all of their health benefits!

Monek Marie

More great info on nasturtiums:

15 uses for nasturtiums leaves flowers seeds and stem - great recipes! https://www.ruralsprout.com/nasturtium-uses/

https://www.ruralsprout.com/nasturtiums/

jowitt.europe

I love nasturtiums. I eat them fresh, make herbal tea from the dried ones, tincture from fresh and dried. They are so decorative. I am already spoiled as they grow themselves from the last year seeds. I just have to look round, find the young plants and plant them where I want them.