Nasturtium pdamaged by aphids, plant bugs, cutworm caterpillars, whitefly, as well as gray mold, leaf spots and mosaic.
Pests.
rapeseed bug
. The insect has an egg-shaped body, flat, up to 10 millimeters long. The bugs are black with a metallic sheen and a white pattern. They feed on plant sap. In feeding places, the leaf tissue turns brown and dies. Damaged leaves curl and dry out. Damaged shoots and buds are deformed.
The bugs emerge from their wintering grounds at an average daily temperature of 13 °C. Females lay their eggs on stems, leaf petioles and buds in early May, after 14 days larvae hatch, similar to adult bugs, but smaller and wingless. The larvae feed on juice for 1.5 months, then they turn into adult bugs. Thus, in August, you can find masses of bedbugs, which at the end of the month go to winter, hiding under fallen leaves.
Control measures
. If there are few bugs, they are collected by hand.
With the mass appearance of pests, plants are sprayed with insecticidal preparations before flowering, such as Actellik, Karate, Inta-Vir, Iskra Zolotaya, Zipershans, Fufanon, Fury and others.
Aphid nasturtium
. Brown insects appear on plants in the second half of summer. They feed on the juice of leaves and stems. Damaged leaves wither prematurely, stems and flower stalks dry up.
Control measures
. High level of agricultural technology, timely processing and watering of the soil.Before flowering, spraying with insecticidal preparations ("Fufanon").
Diseases.
Alternariosis
. Fungal disease of nasturtium leaves. It appears in the second half of summer in the form of yellow-brown, rapidly growing spots. The disease can capture the leaves completely, causing them to turn brown, dry and crack. Olive-black sporulation pads develop on the affected tissue. The fungus also damages the growth point, as a result of which the stem is deformed, turns brown and dries. Affected plants grow poorly and bloom poorly.
The infection persists on plant debris and seeds.
Control measures
. Use for sowing only healthy seeds, for prevention, seeds can be treated in a solution of the Barrier preparation.
Before flowering, spraying plants with the preparation "Ridomil Gold".
When the first signs of the disease are detected, single affected leaves and stems are removed.
In the fall, be sure to collect plant debris.
heterosporiosis
, or mottled leaf spot.
Fungal disease that affects leaves and stems. It appears as small speckled brown spots on the leaves. Over time, the spots increase, their middle brightens, a yellow border appears around.Seeds are the source of infection.
Control measures
. Use for propagation of seeds collected from healthy plants.
Pre-sowing treatment of seeds: first, they are kept in water at room temperature for an hour, then treated for half an hour in hot (52 ° C) water.
For prevention, seedlings are treated with a Bordeaux mixture or its substitutes.
In autumn, plant residues are collected and removed from the site.
spotted mosaic
. A disease of a viral nature. It appears on the leaves, covered with mosaic spots and deformed. Plants are stunted.
Control measures
. High level of agricultural technology. Preventive vector control.
If diseased plants are found, they are destroyed.
Hello dear readers! Today I will continue the “capuchin” theme with a story about growing nasturtium and caring for it from sowing to collecting seeds. I will also reveal a little secret of the lush and abundant flowering of this beauty. You already know the benefits of nasturtium, and growing it will become easier after reading this article.
I'll start with the requirements from nasturtium. This plant prefers moderately fertile, light-textured, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic environment. On soils rich in organic matter, plants “fatten”, as a rule, to the detriment of flowering. When grown on poor soils, nasturtium loses its decorative effect, the leaves become small, and the stems become bare. On heavy and waterlogged soils, the roots rot, which leads to the death of plants.
Nasturtium is photophilous. For growing this crop, choose a well-lit, sunny place, protected from the wind. In partial shade and shade, plants produce significantly more leaves than flowers. It is also very thermophilic and does not tolerate frost.
Planting nasturtium
These flowers are perennial in nature, but are cultivated as annual crops. Most types of nasturtium are propagated by seeds. Terry varieties, as well as new varieties, are propagated vegetatively by cuttings. You can learn about some from the previous article.
Capuchin seeds remain viable for 4 years. Before sowing, nasturtium seeds are placed in hot water (+40 ... + 50 ° C) for 15-20 minutes, and then soaked for 24 hours.
When growing nasturtium from seeds, two planting methods are used: seedless and seedling.
With a seedless method of growing nasturtium, 2-3 seeds are lowered into the holes to a depth of 2 cm in increments of 20-30 cm. Sowing time in open ground is the end of May. Seedlings of this culture are afraid of May frosts and die when the air temperature drops to 0 ° C.
In those regions where return frosts are possible, one should not rush to plant nasturtium. Or you can use the following method. So, in order to accelerate the emergence of seedlings and the onset of flowering, before sowing seeds, the soil is shed with water (+40 ... + 50 ° C). The sown plot of land is covered with non-woven material, and at night additionally with plastic wrap. Water moderately, only with warm water. Finally open young plants in the first decade of June.
Growing nasturtium in a seedless way has its advantages. Growing plants in a permanent place avoids their disease, which often happens with seedlings. However, flowering in this case comes later.
How to Grow Nasturtium for Early Flowering
For earlier flowering, it is better to use the seedling method. When growing seedlings, it must be taken into account that nasturtium has a relatively weak root system with a large leaf surface. Therefore, these plants tolerate any damage to the roots very painfully.
To avoid injury to the root system, seedlings are grown in separate containers without picking and planted together with an earthen clod.
Watering is necessary at the beginning of plant growth. When flowering occurs, nasturtium needs moderate watering, which is carried out only when the soil dries up. Remember that with excessive moisture, these plants form few flowers and a lot of leaves.
In order for your beauty to look well-groomed, it is necessary to regularly remove wilted flowers and ovaries. Of course, this is if you do not need seeds. This technique promotes the formation of new flowers and lush flowering.
From the plants you like, you can collect the seeds yourself. In place of the flower, a combined fruit is formed, consisting of three seeds. They gradually change color from green to whitish and increase in size. Ripe seeds fall off. Therefore, seeds should be collected as they ripen, avoiding self-sowing. The only species in which the seeds do not fully ripen is foreign nasturtium (when grown in the middle lane).
Despite the fact that nasturtium does not tolerate frost, its seeds can overwinter in the soil and still retain their germination.
Growing nasturtium is quite feasible even for a novice grower. You already know how to grow nasturtium with a seedling and seedless method. I advise you to try both the first and the second method of growing nasturtium. Well, the right choice of soil, location and moderate watering will help to achieve abundant flowering of this South American beauty.
And such a savory sandwich paste can be prepared from nasturtium:
More recipes and tips in the article about the types of nasturtium.
May your garden always be beautiful!
I advise, dear readers, not to miss the publication of new materials on this blog.
Nasturtium is one of the most popular flowers among flower growers. It pleases the eye with abundant flowering all summer and the first month of autumn. It is difficult to find a garden where such a bright flower as nasturtium is grown. Yes, it also requires attention and care.
This quivering flower can become infected. Therefore, I would like to introduce amateur gardeners to the viruses that cause nasturtium diseases.
Viruses that infect nasturtiums
It is very unpleasant when your "favorites" start to get sick and act up. Diseases of nasturtium also do not cause joy, but lead to discouragement. The most common of them are:
- Cabbage black ring spot virus. It causes the appearance of emerald spots of a mosaic character. The diseased plant lags behind in development, has variegated flowers, which sometimes acquire a greenish tint. The virus is transmitted by sap and aphids. Ring spot (the virus of the same name). Spots and lines appear on the leaves of the flower. The leaf becomes wavy. The virus is also spread by sap and aphids.
How to avoid illness
In order for your flowers to be healthy throughout the entire growth period, you must follow simple rules for caring for them. For nasturtium, they are as follows:
- it is very thermophilic, so you need to place it on the sunny side; loves the light - never hide it in the shade; prefers moist soil - you need to water it regularly; does not tolerate transplantation; prefers fertile land ...
If you fulfill all the requirements on time, then no diseases of nasturtium are terrible. As you can see, even flowers are affected by viruses. Diseases of nasturtium are easily treated with the help of specially designed preparations and fertilizers.
Therefore, if you want your flower garden to be decorated with this wonderful flower, treat it with love and it will delight you with colorful flowers.
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Homeland: South America. Homeland of foreign nasturtium - Peru. The form: herbaceous plant.
Nasturtium is a perennial plant, but in areas with frosty winters it is grown as an annual. In nature, there are up to 50 species. Nasturtium big (T. majus) is a perennial plant grown as an annual.
The stems are divided into two types: creeping, highly branched and erect, up to 70 centimeters high. Rounded-unequal-sided leaves are located on long petioles. The upper side of the leaf blade is light green, the lower side is gray-gray, sometimes with a purple tint.
The flowers are yellow, orange, bright red or pink, have a pleasant aroma. They can be simple, terry and semi-double. The flowering period begins in June and continues until the first frost.
Nasturtium foreign (T. peregrinum) - an annual herbaceous climbing plant with a stem height of up to 3 meters. The leaves are small, five-parted, light green. The flowers are solitary, bright yellow, with petals corrugated along the edge.
Nasturtium small (T. minus) is a perennial herbaceous plant grown as an annual, with a thin branched stem up to 35 centimeters high. Small round leaves are located on long thin petioles.
The flowers are not more than 3 centimeters in diameter, yellow with small dark spots. The spur is curved, short. Dwarf nasturtium blooms from June to September.
Shield nasturtium (T. peltophorum) is a perennial shrub used as an annual. The stems are fragile, juicy, dark green in color, reach a length of 4 meters. Leaves are thyroid.
The flowers are bright red, solitary. The flowering period begins in June and continues until September. Nasturtium cultural (T. cultorum) - the combined name of the hybrid varieties of shield-bearing nasturtium and large nasturtium.
Annual plants with a variety of flower colors (from light yellow to red) and various bush shapes - there are compact, dwarf varieties of cultivated nasturtium (15-50 centimeters high), as well as creeping ones with shoots up to 4 meters long. Some varieties are distinguished by double flowers.
Growing conditions The nasturtium plant loves open sunny areas. Does not tolerate frost. For nasturtiums, cultivation is preferred in moist, fertile soils.
Nasturtium in the garden can play a variety of roles. Foreign nasturtium and other types of climbing nasturtium are used to decorate pergolas, fences, fences. Creeping varieties can be used as ground cover or ampelous.
Undersized and dwarf nasturtiums are grown in flowerpots and containers, as well as in various flower beds. Nasturtium in a flower bed can create a very picturesque carpet.
Nasturtium looks great on the balcony. In addition, nasturtium is used in cooking - in most species, all ground parts are edible. Salads are decorated with nasturtium flowers, seeds are used as seasoning.
Nasturtium leaves contain a very high amount of vitamin C and are very good in cold snacks. Nasturtium is also used in folk medicine - as a remedy for beriberi, skin diseases and anemia.
Nasturtium tincture is used to stimulate hair growth. Watering is moderate, regular. Excess moisture prevents abundant flowering. Fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers is carried out only before flowering begins. The nasturtium flower propagates by seeds.
Nasturtium seeds are sown in open ground in mid-May or for seedlings in early May. Nasturtium seedlings are planted in the ground in June. Terry varieties can be propagated by cuttings.
Since nasturtium is a perennial plant, you can save the best specimens in winter by transplanting them into pots and cutting them in spring. More information on how to plant nasturtium and how to grow nasturtium can be found in the special literature.
Diseases and pests Pests do not like nasturtium - it scares away most of them. Therefore, it may be useful to plant nasturtium near an ornamental vegetable garden. They can choose nasturtium cabbage caterpillars and earthen fleas.
But aphids can be dangerous not so much by themselves, but as a carrier of viral diseases. Frequent diseases of nasturtium are mosaic and ring spot. A light green mosaic pattern appears on the leaves of nasturtium.
Diseased nasturtium develops slowly, the color of the flowers may change. The virus is transmitted by sap and aphids. With ring spotting, light brown spots and lines form on the leaves.
The leaf is deformed, development slows down. Popular varieties
"Vesuvius"- a plant up to 30 centimeters high with salmon-pink flowers of a simple form. Semi creeping variety.
"Garnet Jam"- upright plant up to 30 centimeters high. The leaves are light green. The flowers are double, up to 6 centimeters in diameter, red-orange with a yellow calyx and brown strokes.
"Golden Globe"- terry nasturtium 25 centimeters high, grows widely. Nasturtium flowers "Golden Globe" are bright yellow, up to 6.5 centimeters in diameter.
"Globe of Fire"- nasturtium up to 45 centimeters high. The flowers are very large (up to 7 centimeters in diameter), double, orange with brown strokes.
"Kaiserin von Indian"- upright nasturtium up to 25 centimeters high, spherical bush. The leaves are dark green, small. The flowers are simple in shape, up to 4.5 cm in diameter, red with dark strokes.
"Foyeoglanz"- nasturtium is undersized, up to 25 centimeters high. Flowers up to 6 centimeters in diameter, double, orange-red.
"Cream"- almost white nasturtium with a creamy tint. Flowers are simple. The height of the "Cream" nasturtium is up to 2 meters.
'Lucifer'- characterized by erect stems and large leaves with a purple tint; flowers of a simple shape, fiery red, reach a diameter of 6 centimeters. 'Canary'- climbing plant with a stem height of up to 350 centimeters. Nasturtium ‘Canary’ flowers are small, bright yellow, corrugated petals.
‘Black Velvet’- a plant up to 30 centimeters high. Flowers up to 6 centimeters in diameter, simple in shape, deep burgundy, almost black. On sale, this variety can also be found under the name ‘Black Lady’.
‘Cherry Rose’- a plant up to 30 centimeters high. Nasturtium flowers ‘Cherry rose’ are bright red, double.
The shape of the nasturtium flower resembles the hood of a capuchin monk, which is why this plant is also called capuchin. Thanks to the variety of varieties, nasturtium on the balcony is capable of creating a magnificent flower garden alone - vertical gardening from vines can be supplemented with ampelous species hanging from flower pots and undersized plant bushes in flower boxes.
Abundantly flowering unpretentious plants, can have flowers of bright yellow, orange, red or cherry tones. The leaves of nasturtium are rounded, on long cuttings, they look beautiful against the general background. Depending on the type of plant, they can be green, brownish, variegated.
Species and varieties
The plant is native to America. In its natural environment, nasturtium is a perennial, in our latitudes it is grown as an annual. On a closed insulated balcony or loggia, it can live for several years.
The genus Nasturtium includes eighty plant species. The most popular type was nasturtium is large, it is also called May.The plant is well suited for growing on a balcony also because it has a shallow root system.
Blooms earlier than outdoors. Climbing varieties reach a height of up to two meters. Ampelous plants have stems up to thirty centimeters. Dwarf varieties of nasturtium develop a bush height of up to about fifteen centimeters.
The plant looks good in a mono planting.
Curly variety of nasturtium
Combinations with other colors
Nasturtium bushes can be planted in a box, choosing plants for the composition that are in harmony in the general appearance and color of the flowers. The combination can be in tone or contrast. Calendula, zinnia, marigolds are flowers that are suitable for an ensemble with nasturtium.
Blue sage, heliotrope is also an option. Curly varieties of nasturtium on the loggia look original on the same trellis with tall tomatoes, for example, De Barao or Cherry varieties.
The usefulness of nasturtium
Nasturtium has a value as a beautifully flowering plant with a soft pleasant aroma. It is also known as a medicinal plant. Infusion of herbs is recommended for exhaustion, bronchitis, anemia.
For vascular diseases, it is good to use essential oil. Alcohol tincture improves the condition of the hair by rubbing it into the scalp. Fresh seeds can be eaten, good for the heart.
All parts of the plant are used to prepare a remedy that strengthens the body with male and female problems. Salads are made from leaves and flowers, they are rich in vitamin C and tend to improve digestion. The plant helps to cope with irritability, relieve depression.
The seeds are pickled to produce a delicacy reminiscent of capers. Flowers and leaves are used to decorate dishes. Along with planting flowers, it is also possible to grow vegetables at home on a balcony or loggia. What and how you can grow, read in our other article. And if you are thinking about what flowers to plant on the balcony, we recommend you our review article, which contains information on various varieties of balcony flowers.
Landing
For seedlings
Nasturtium on the balcony for seedlings is planted in March, it is possible in April. The seed is planted in the ground to a depth three times its size. It is good to pre-soak the seeds for a day.
When the soil dries out, moisten with warm water. For germination, they make an imitation of a greenhouse by covering the pots with glass. Seedlings appear in about two weeks.
Before planting a seedling in a permanent place, it should be hardened. To do this, take out the seedlings to the balcony in warm weather and leave for several hours.
Nasturtium seedlings, ready to be transplanted to a permanent place
Soil and container
It is better to plant seeds for seedlings in peat pots or in other containers where you can remove the bottom, and get a seedling with a clod of earth. The plant is fragile and requires care when moving from the container to the main place of residence.
The container for planting the plant is used wide and not very deep, because the nasturtium root is superficial and not very developed. The earth mixture for balcony nasturtium is used light, not rich. Well the plant perceives loamy or sandy soils. On soils with a high nitrogen content, nasturtium develops a vegetative part and blooms poorly.
Landing in a permanent place
Growing nasturtium on the balcony is also done by direct planting of seeds in a permanent place. The distance between seeds during planting should be about twenty centimeters. Shoots quickly catch up with seedlings planted in boxes, because it does not immediately take root.
Keep in mind that nasturtium is afraid of frost. They take pots and boxes of nasturtium from warm rooms to the balcony or plant them in a permanent place when they pass, about after the twentieth of May on a cloudy day.
A prerequisite for planting nasturtium on a balcony is the provision of drainage in the landing tanks. Stagnation of moisture at the roots of the plant will lead to its decay. It is better to immediately plant ampelous species with seeds in a flower pot, which will then hang on the balcony.
Do this indoors, at the same time as planting seedlings, and take it out to the open balcony with the onset of heat. If there is a threat of frost, bring the pots into the room until it warms up.
Nasturtium on the loggia feels very comfortable in a flowerpot
Lighting
Nasturtium is photophilous, but does not like to be under the scorching sun for a long time. She is well suited for balconies with any orientation, except for the south side.. It replenishes the number of plants decorating the balcony on the north side, because it withstands shady planting conditions.
On the north balcony, flowering will be much poorer. Tip: Do not plant nasturtiums (except undersized varieties) if the balcony is open and located on the windy side. The brittle stem will not withstand constant winds. This applies to the upper floors of the building starting from the sixth.
Care
Watering
To provide nasturtium care on the balcony, you should keep the soil moist. Drainage at the bottom of the containers must drain excess fluid to keep the roots healthy.
A feature of the plant is a different approach to watering at certain stages of development.. Abundant watering is possible before the opening of the buds. If during flowering the watering regime is not changed to a moderate schedule, then the plant begins to bloom weakly. Tip: To keep the nasturtium blooming continuously, pick faded specimens that begin to wither.
top dressing
Planting and caring for nasturtium on the balcony suggests that the main feeding of the plant is done during the period of vegetative development and preparation for flowering. Once a week it is good to do watering with nutrients. It can be top dressing with complex fertilizers.
An increase in the nitrogen component will lead to excessive development of the green mass of the plant. Good flowering contributes to the phosphorus component.
Ash is an excellent natural fertilizer that stimulates nasturtium on the loggia to abundant budding and bright flowering. For liquid top dressing, dilute ten grams (five teaspoons) of ash per liter of water. As soon as the plant is ready to bloom, stop fertilizing.
With proper care, balcony nasturtium will delight you with beautiful flowering.
Pest and disease control
Pests
How to grow nasturtium on a balcony so that it is healthy and pleases with a holiday of colors for a long time - you need to observe and respond in time if pests attacked it. Often the plant is attacked by aphids, spider mites, cruciferous flea, cabbage moth.
All of them, except for the spider mite, are afraid of ash. If you sift it through a sieve and powder the plants on a calm, windless day, the pests will leave the nasturtium.
If necessary, the event can be repeated. If the nasturtium and the earth in the pot are sprayed with alcohol, but not technical, the spider mite will disappear. Chemicals are also used in pest control. You can find interesting tips on decorating a balcony with flowers in this material. Options for vertical and horizontal gardening, varieties of flower containers. Some people are tempted to cook barbecue on the balcony in summer. Is it possible to do this, you will find out here. Tips for the design of a small balcony are presented at this link http://balkonsami.ru/idei-dlya-dizayna/variantyi/malenkogo-balkona.html
Diseases
Diseases can destroy plants in a short time. Gray rot is manifested by gray-brown spots on all parts of the nasturtium. The cause of the trouble is the botrys fungus.
If during the growing season spray with 1% Bordeaux liquid, then this trouble can be avoided. Bacterial wilt causes the lower leaves to wither, and then the whole plant may die. Nasturtium mosaic: the plant slows down the growth of shoots, light green stains appear on the nasturtium. The mosaic virus is carried by sucking pests, the fight against them is the prevention of this problem. Rust: first small brown spots form, then they develop into irregularly shaped pads.
Control measures
Diseased parts of the plant should be removed and burned. In order for flowers to have a strong immunity against diseases, it is necessary to strictly follow the agricultural technique for growing each crop.
Use healthy planting material for planting. We bring to your attention a short video. It discusses the most interesting varieties of nasturtium seeds and gives tips on caring for the plant.
Nasturtium on the balcony photo
And here we have selected a few photos on the topic of our article "How to grow nasturtium on a balcony: planting and care." All photos are clickable.
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Be the first to receive information about new articles on the site from our Vkontakte, Facebook, Twitter communities or subscribe to them via RSS. In the previous article, we wrote about nasturtium - an ornamental and edible plant suitable for growing in tubs and on open ground. Nasturtium is famous as a plant that repels various kinds of pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle. At the same time, nasturtium itself also suffers from certain diseases and insects.
Pests
Since nasturtium is a relative of radish and cabbage, its pests are the same as those of the above-described cruciferous plants, namely: aphids, cabbage moth, cruciferous flea, whitefish, spider mite, bear. Medvedka is a particularly dangerous pest that does not hesitate to spoil everything - from root crops to trees.
How to fight?
Against aphids and cabbage moths, as well as the cruciferous flea, ash scattered right on top of the plant is excellent. Carefully sift the ashes through a fine sieve and sprinkle the plant with it. This should be done in dry and calm weather.
Pests leave the treated plant very quickly. If necessary, the ash treatment can be repeated. Spider mites hate drinking alcohol.
It is necessary to spray the plant and soil with 96% alcohol and treat the pot with it (if nasturtium is grown indoors). Technical alcohol cannot be used.
In addition to folk methods, there are different types of chemicals that help fight pests, but they are recommended to be used in limited quantities and in the most extreme cases. Another fairly effective way to control pests is the use of biologically active drugs. As a rule, the components of these preparations are microorganisms that are useful for plants and humans, which, at the same time, have a detrimental effect on pests.
Diseases
The most common nasturtium diseases include: bacterial wilt, gray mold, leaf spot, rust, nasturtium mosaic, and ring spot viruses. All of them are capable of destroying your plant very quickly, in a matter of hours, so measures must be taken quickly enough.
How do they appear?
Bacterial wilt leads first to the drooping of the lower leaves, and then to the withering of the entire plant. Gray rot forms dry gray-brown spots on parts of the plant. Leaf spot appears as small dots with red-brown edges.
They appear on the leaves, gradually growing and capturing the entire leaf. In the center and on the reverse side of the leaf, such a spot may be dotted with small black dots containing spores.
Rust appears as small brown and black specks that gradually develop into strange, irregularly shaped raised pads. Nasturtium mosaic appears as a mosaic pattern of light green spots. Nasturtium loses its visual appeal, the growth of shoots slows down.
Nasturtium is a beautiful annual flower that attracts gardeners not only for its appearance. Growing a plant is quite simple, which even a beginner grower can handle. Annual looks good in the flower bed and beds. Unusual leaves and bright flowers make nasturtium a welcome guest in every garden. There are compact forms of plants that are grown in balcony boxes.
Most often, gardeners grow varieties with bright colors of flowers: yellow, red, orange. Nasturtium leaves have an unusual shape in the form of a heart, and decorate the flower bed even before the flowers bloom. The sweet smell of the plant attracts pollinating insects to the garden.
Among flower growers, the following types of plants are especially popular:
Bush nasturtium;
Curly.
Bush varieties form compact low plants that reach a height of about 20 cm. By growing them in groups, you can get a flowering carpet that is covered with many bright flowers from June until frost. Plants are used to create a border, landscaping terraces, balconies, flower beds. It is necessary to plant bush forms of nasturtium in open sunny areas, protecting from the winds. Nasturtium does not tolerate cold at all.
Curly species give good shoots, the length of which can reach up to 3 meters. Such plants are designed to create hedges, fences, decorating arches and arbors. Cultivation is carried out only on supports. Curly nasturtium forms larger flowers, often double. Seeds for planting are best sown immediately in a permanent place, since the plant does not tolerate transplantation well, the seedlings weaken, and do not take root well.
New varieties are regularly introduced that differ in their colors. In addition to the simple form of the inflorescence, there is also a terry one. Among lovers of nasturtium, there are especially beloved varieties:
Golden Globe; 
cherry rose; 
Day and night. 
Terry varieties are valued for the unusual shape of the inflorescence. In some species, the diameter of the flower reaches 10 cm in diameter. However, flowering in such species is shorter, but memorable. The first buds bloom in July, and flowering ends in August. Terry varieties are quite fragrant.
Growing features: planting nasturtium in open groundFollowing simple rules, you can successfully grow nasturtium in the garden, enjoying its fragrant flowers until autumn.
1. To grow a plant, you need to choose a suitable place.
Nasturtium comes from South America, so it loves warmth and sun. The landing site should be well lit throughout the day. A plant planted in the shade will not please with flowering. You should also protect the delicate flower from wind and draft.
2. Nasturtium prefers light moderately nutritious soils.
Soil overfed with organic matter is not the best option for growing a plant. On too "fat" lands, bushes bloom poorly. But poor soils also have a bad effect on the condition of the annual: the stems are exposed, the leaves become smaller. Experienced gardeners regularly make mineral complexes that nasturtium loves very much. As a result, the flowers become large, the leaves are shiny, the buds are formed until October.
3. It is better to grow nasturtium in a seedless way, sowing seeds directly into the ground.
The fragile root system of the plant does not tolerate transplants, it is often injured and the flower dies.
You need to sow seeds with the onset of heat, somewhere in early May. The bed for sowing is pre-watered with warm water, which contributes to the rapid germination of seeds and early flowering. The seeding depth is about 2 cm, the distance between plants should be at least 25 cm. Plants grown in this way are stronger and healthier, which prolongs the flowering period. If the threat of frost has not yet passed, then the planting dates should be postponed or the seedlings should be sheltered from the cold.
Important! If there is a need to grow nasturtium through seedlings, then only peat cups are used for planting. Transplanting such plants does not injure the roots, since it is not necessary to remove the seedling from the pot.
How to care for nasturtium
Flower growers love this flower for its unpretentious care. All nasturtiums need is timely watering, fertilizing and the absence of weeds.
Watering nasturtium
The watering regimen depends on the growth phase of the plant. When the first shoots appear, nasturtium requires regular irrigation, high soil moisture. For normal growth and development, seedlings need a lot of moisture. When buds appear, watering must be reduced, otherwise the plant will continue to grow leaves, which will negatively affect the duration of flowering.
Nutritious top dressing
For lush and long flowering, it is necessary to make mineral complexes. At the beginning of the growing season, more nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be given, and later, when the plant gains enough green mass, you need to switch to potash top dressing.
Weed control
The root system should breathe well, for this purpose, the soil around the bushes is regularly loosened, weeds are removed. You can increase the air permeability of the soil by mulching. A small layer of mulch will keep weeds from growing and keep moisture in the soil.
Growing nasturtium: how to collect seeds
Nasturtium propagates by seeds. If drooping flowers are removed, then flowering will continue, but the seeds will not be tied. For the formation of seeds on the plant, several inflorescences are left, which must ripen.
Ripened seeds are collected together with inflorescences, crushed on paper and dried. Dry the seeds at a temperature of 20 degrees in a shaded place. When they turn whitish, they are removed for storage. Seeds should not be allowed to fall to the ground. In warm autumn weather, they will germinate and die in winter. Fragile seedlings will not survive the cold. Collected seeds can be stored for 4 years. All these years they do not lose their germination.
Nasturtium care: diseases and pests
Nasturtium has a specific smell that repels the Colorado potato beetle, cabbage aphids and mites. But sometimes, some pests annoy the plant itself.
1. The cabbage butterfly lays larvae on the leaves of the plant. Its caterpillars strongly water the appearance of nasturtium. Pesticides are used to control them.
2. An ash solution is used from an earthen flea. Spraying is carried out in the evening. Processing is repeated after rain. The number of treatments is unlimited, since the ash does not harm the plant.
3. One of the dangerous pests of nasturtium is aphid, which carries viral diseases: ring spot. On the leaves of the plant, you can find light spots that form a mosaic pattern. 
4. Spider mite is another insidious pest of nasturtium. Alcohol is used to combat it, spraying the plant and soil. When growing a flower in a flowerpot, the container also needs to be processed.
Nasturtium is a rather beautiful annual plant that brings many benefits to the site: it repels pests and is a good honey plant. Some gardeners use the leaves of the plant in cooking. They have a spicy taste and add spice to meat dishes.
In folk medicine, nasturtium is known for its medicinal properties. Preparations from the plant are used for colds. It has antibacterial properties and contains vitamin C.
Cosmetologists advise using nasturtium for hair loss. After the procedures, the hair acquires shine, accelerates growth.