Jewel Mix Nasturtiums
Tropaeolum minus

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
20 seeds per packet

days to maturity: 55-65  days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: overwatering and not enough drainage (they like it dry)
harvest notes: harvest all parts of the plant when needed. leaves, seeds, flowers
annual

Nasturtiums are a great plant to have in your edible garden not just because they are beautiful but because they are also super delicious and useful. Did you know that the entire plant is edible… and spicy!? the flowers and flower buds are edible as are the lily pad shaped leaves at all sizes, and the fresh green seeds can be pickled and used like capers.

We recommend planting nasturtiums along the edge of your garden so that they can cascade out of your bed and fill up some extra vertical space, as they get pretty big when they’re happy. Also, when growing nasturtiums make sure you don’t overwater them, as their roots are susceptible to rot if they get too much water. Nasturtiums are actually invasive in California which means they are some of the most extremely drought tolerant plants out there, so you can imagine how they wouldn’t take well to soil that doesn’t drain well or consistent watering.

When direct seeding nasturtiums just pop 2 seeds into each hole but make sure to space them appropriately or else they will overcrowd each other. Nasturtium shoots are edible so you can always over seed at first and then thin plants to one per square foot as they mature.