Second Chance for Nasturtiums

When June was really hot and humid my Nasturtiums literally fainted and fell over. I mourned their imminent demise and Renee's Seeds graciously sent more seed for a fall trial. I set the pot and basket aside with some other plants that were not faring very well.

As hurricane season sent winds, moisture and cooler temperatures up out of the Gulf our way, the Nasturtiums decided to make a comeback. New growth appeared and even a few brave new buds. I cut the long dead vines and foliage away and gave them a dose of liquid fertilizer. I am aware that fertilizer isn't necessary, perhaps even sacrificing blooms, but the new leaves are so small they look starved. Topdressing with regular garden soil might be helpful as well. I'll try that.

It was interesting to hear on the national news tonight that temperatures in New Jersey reached 100 degrees with no relief in sight, while we had only a high of 92, cooled off with a rain shower of 0.2 inch of rain. Dark clouds are gathering again to the south.

I am growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project.

Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.

When Weather Is Hot, Nasturtiums are Not

As the weather got hotter and more humid, my Nasturtiums began to suffer despite a shady location. These photos from May 24 show leaves beginning to yellow despite careful watering. A decline in new buds was also noted.

I saved back some seeds to plant in fall when the weather is cooler.

Nastutiums perform best here in earliest spring and late fall.

Verification of Nasturtiums as a cool season annual is found at

TAMU's web site information on nasturtiums.

Flowers and text are from the garden of Nell Jean at www.seedscatterer.blogspot.com in the hot, humid depths of Southwest Georgia where Gardenia fragrance floats on the breeze. Join us in a glass of iced Ruby Tea, dark and barely sweet.

I was growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project.

I'll plant more nasturtiums in the fall when the weather cools.

Nasturtiums are a kewl cool weather flower here.

Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.

GROW Project May 2010 update

'Spitfire' Nasturtiums planted inside the first week in March are growing as expected. By April 1, they were peeking over the side of the basket. As they stretched, I gave them an improvisational carpentry trellis of red cedar branches.



The pics are of the 'front' of the basket where they've grown toward the sun and the back which shows their little trellis. I turned them around today so they can follow the sun back to the other side of the trellis.

I'm worried about hot humid weather taking them out, which has been my experience in the past. I kept back some of the seeds for another trial in the fall when I can better control their environment.

We had 3.7 inches of rain last night. They will need some fertilizer as rain washes out nutrients in the potting soil.

I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project.

Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.

Nasturtiums for the GROW Project

This is not my first venture with nasturtiums. I hope that it will be a successful one. I planted my seeds in containers on March 1 because of the difference in climates. Nasturtiums want a cooler growing season than I can provide in summer.  I planted enough seeds to fill 2 containers and saved back a few to plant in fall to grow through the winter in the greenhouse to see if that is a better plan for zone 8b in the sunny South.

My last venture with nasturtiums was in 2008. I planted early, outside in full sun. There is no record past early May, but the plants were already stressed then. We were in a drought and the sun was hot.

Empress of India, May 2008

St. Clemens nasturtium, Spring 2008

Empress of India Seedlings, March 2008

My containers are already outside where they will get filtered sun.

I'm hopeful they'll last well into hot weather.  

I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project.

Thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds.