Nasturtiums for every springtime flowerbed garden...

About Nasturtiums

How To Grow Nasturtiums

It wasn't until 2008 that I planted my first grouping. We had just finished mounding our middle island garden and it was early July.

The garden centres I visited sat empty...albeit for a few...you guessed it Nasturtiums.

One by one I dug the holes and set the beauties into the ground. I covered one whole side of the mounded flowerbed garden. They are sun loving, a hummingbird attractor and not needing too much water. Perfect!

Not long into August my husband Jim commented on the plants. Now you have to remember that I am in my garden every day deadheading and deadheading my Nicotiana, I planted close by. Putting on my glasses I tool a good look. To my horror...and covering every plant...the white striped flea beetle. What seemed like thousands of them in their early stages of life. I could not believe my eyes. It was like it happened overnight.

In the early stages of life this beetle is impossible to control because of its tiny size and jumping habit. As it becomes an adult the 2 white stripes become pronounced and you can pick them off. They lay their eggs in the soil, eat at the roots and crawl up the host plant to eat the leaves. They eventually kill the plant. So, one by one I tore out the plants and alas...my one and only experience with this lovely plant shall stay at that...for now.

Please visit my Site Index Page to view other annuals and perennials that you can plant in your next flowerbed garden design.

Nasturtiums Features:

• compact plants: 12" tall and 18" wide
• trailing plants: can reach 3' to 4' in height
• prefers sun, but ok in partial shade with less flowers
• likes moist well-drained soil
• can be bothered by aphids, spider mites and yes...the white striped flea beetle
• brightly colored blooms: burgundy, red, orange, peach, yellow and cream
• grows quickly
• the trailing are great for hanging baskets and also can be trained to climb a trellis
• leaves resembles that of a water lily
• edible if not chemically sprayed

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