Nasturtium is a golden trophy in your garden

This article will focus on a herbaceous plant, nasturtium. So where does the trophy have to do with it? Everything is very simple. Nasturtium got its name from the word trophy, which in Latin sounds like "trophae". They named nasturtium so thanks to the unusual leaves, which in their shape resemble a shield, and flowers, similar to a helmet.

Nasturtium: photo of flowers

Nasturtium: color description

Central and South America is considered the birthplace of capuchin (nasturtium), but gardeners all over the world love this plant. Due to the rather harsh climate in central Russia, it is grown as an annual.

Nasturtium can be both annual and perennial. It has soft branched stems, sometimes creeping, sometimes curly, sometimes erect.

Inflorescences of nasturtium are bright, double or smooth, with an extensive palette of yellow, orange, red, and even pink shades with slightly wavy edges. Most often they consist of five petals. Alternate leaves on long petioles with streaked rays emanating from the base. They have a rounded thyroid shape and play in shades from pale green to emerald green.

Nasturtium: types and photos of flowers

There are about eighty-eight types of nasturtium in nature, but the following are the most popular:

— Nasturtium Golden Globe or Golden Globe - got its name due to its spherical shape of the bush. Low-growing terry variety, the height usually does not exceed thirty centimeters. Large inflorescences of golden yellow color adorn the red strokes from the heart of the flower. The sepal is yellow.

Nasturtium Golden Globe: photo of flowers

— Nasturtium Vesuvius - growing, the bush becomes semi-creeping, flowers are both simple and semi-double. The color of the flowers is salmon pink.

Nasturtium Vesuvius: photo of flowers

— Nasturtium Fireball - a taller shrub in comparison with its counterparts, reaches a height of forty-five centimeters. It has large shaggy leaves, reaching a diameter of seven centimeters. The flowers are bright red, exuding a spicy aroma. The sepal is dark yellow, the leaves are light green.

Nasturtium Fireball: photo of flowers

— Nasturtium Kaiserin von Indien - spherical erect low shrub, reaching no more than twenty-five centimeters in height. Small leaf plates have an unusual color - emerald green on the upper side, and a bluish tint underneath. Simple purple flowers with brownish-reddish stripes on two outer petals. Sepal reddish rufous outside.

Nasturtium Kaiserin von Indien: photo of flowers

— Nasturtium Garnet Gem - erect shrub up to thirty centimeters in height. With large, round, light green leaves. Bulky double flowers can reach up to six centimeters in diameter in diameter. Their color is ruby ​​red with an orange tint. The outer petals are decorated with brown streaks. The sepal is bright yellow.

Nasturtium Garnet Gem: Flower Photo

Nasturtium: growing and nursing in the open field

Florist beginners need five outdoor nasturtium growing tricks

Secret number 1 - the capuchin loves warmth, so it is worth sowing when the seedlings are not threatened by frost, otherwise it will lead to the death of the seeds. Thus, the sowing time is selected based on the climatic characteristics of the strip.

Secret # 2 - nasturtium has a sensitive superficial root system, which makes picking difficult. An excellent solution for growing seedlings is peat cups, which are subsequently transplanted into the ground without removing the contents.

Secret number 3: in order for the pet to please with a lush flowering and a healthy look, you need to choose places with enough sunlight for planting.

Secret number 4: moderately fertile soil is suitable for nasturtium, the rule "the more, the better" does not work here. You also need to provide good drainage. The plant does not tolerate fresh manure, therefore, it is better to feed it with mineral fertilizers for flowers.

Secret number 5: moderately moist earth. Excess moisture destroys the roots, they simply rot. Therefore, during flowering, capuchin is watered only if the soil dries up. But young plants, on the contrary, need regular watering.

Nasturtium: photo of flowers

Sowing nasturtium seeds

Large seeds of nasturtium have a dense protective shell; they ripen about fifty days after the petals have fallen off. Germination of nasturtium seeds lasts up to four years.

Ripe peas of nasturtium seeds fall off on their own, so you need to be careful when collecting them. Ripe can be distinguished by their characteristic whitish color and easy separation from the peduncle. In the absence of the need for a significant amount of nasturtium seeds, the faded inflorescences are systematically removed in order to prolong the rich flowering.

Before sowing in the soil, nasturtium seeds must first be left in water for a day. Swollen seeds are planted in groups of three or four in a hole, the gaps between the holes should be within thirty centimeters. After about fourteen days, the nasturtium seeds will sprout.

Nasturtium: photo of flowers

The pet will begin to bloom after a month and a half from the moment of emergence.
Sentsy should be fed three to four times a month until blooming.
To speed up germination, cover the baits with a polypropylene cloth.

If you want the capuchin to bloom earlier, it is possible to cultivate young plants. To do this, in early May, we sow 3 seeds in pots. After a couple of weeks, we will receive shoots. Planting in open ground will need to be done in the first decade of June, always together with the ground.

Nasturtium cuttings breeding

It is rarely used. This method is best suited for terry varieties. Shoots will root well in damp sandy soil or water.

The use of nasturtium in landscape design

Thanks to its bright appearance and the ability to bloom until the very onset of frost, nasturtium rightfully takes its place in landscape design. Shrubs of small height will be an excellent decoration if they are planted along garden paths, or in tubs and flowerpots. And given the fact that the plant can have climbing stems, it is successfully used in the version of landscaping the vertical planes of facades or fences. Plants in planters look great on a terrace or veranda.

Nasturtium: photo of flowers

Nasturtium: food use

Nasturtium is a unique plant with many benefits. All parts of the plant, except for the roots, are suitable for consumption. Young leaves and stems contain carotene and can become a spicy touch in summer salad.

A fragrant tea drink can be brewed from the stems and flowers. And if you dry and grind the seeds, you can get a seasoning for various dishes, reminiscent of black pepper in astringency and spice.

In addition, nasturtium is excellent for diet food. The fruits of nasturtium can also be pickled, because in terms of taste, they are close to such a popular delicacy as capers.

In addition to its use in cooking, the plant can take place in the home medicine cabinet.In terms of vitamin C content, it surpasses lettuce and black currant, contains useful macro- and microelements. It is used for the preparation of many cosmetic products, creams and ointments.

Experts believe that nasturtium is capable of rejuvenating the body and slowing down the aging process, therefore it is popular with adherents of a healthy lifestyle. It also has a pronounced antimicrobial effect, due to the content of provitamin A and phytoncides.

Conclusion

Thus, the "golden trophy" of nasturtium will become not only an excellent decoration for your garden plot, but also an assistant in solving a large number of life issues.

Nasturtium: photo of flowers