Nasturtium Trailing Mix

Nasturtiums are one of those plants that tick all the boxes: easy to grow, edible, beautiful, and incredibly useful in the garden. Whether you’re after a splash of colour, a living mulch, or a handy companion plant, nasturtiums are up for the task. Their cheerful blooms and lush foliage make them a favourite with beginners and seasoned gardeners alike — and they practically thrive on neglect!

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🌱 Sowing: Trays vs. Direct in the Garden

Nasturtiums are delightfully unfussy, and they tend to prefer direct sowing right where they’re going to grow. That said, there’s room for both approaches depending on your goals and climate.

✍️ Direct Sowing (Recommended)

In most parts of Australia, nasturtiums can be sown directly into the garden once the risk of frost has passed — typically late winter to mid-spring in temperate zones, and autumn or early spring in subtropical areas. In frost-free areas, they’ll even grow year-round!

• Simply plant seeds about 2cm deep, spaced 20–30cm apart.
• Choose a well-drained, sunny spot.
• Water in well and wait — germination usually takes 7–14 days.

🌿 Tip: They’ll grow faster and flower more prolifically in poorer soils — too much nitrogen and you’ll get leaves galore but few blooms.

✍️ Sowing in Trays

While they don’t love root disturbance, nasturtiums can still be started in trays if you want a head start.

• Use biodegradable pots to avoid transplant shock.
• Sow one seed per cell/pot, water gently, and keep in a sunny spot.
• Transplant after 3–4 weeks, once they have at least two true leaves and the weather is settled.

🌼 I often sow a few in trays for spot-filling later, especially if I’m mixing them through veggie beds or containers.

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🔥 Is Seed Pre-treatment Needed?

Yes — but it’s quick and easy.

• Nasturtium seeds have a hard outer coat, so soaking them overnight in warm water helps speed up germination.
• Alternatively, you can nick the seed coat gently with a nail file to help water get in.

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🪴 Soil and Position

Nasturtiums thrive in well-draining soil, and they’re happy in conditions that might leave fussier plants sulking.

• Soil: Light, poor to moderately fertile soil. Avoid rich compost when planting — it encourages leafy growth over flowers.
• Sun: Full sun is best, but they’ll tolerate partial shade, especially in hot regions.
• pH: Neutral to slightly acidic (around 6.0–7.5).

They’re very forgiving but don’t like waterlogged spots. If you’re planting in heavy clay, add some sand and compost to lighten the soil.

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🌿 Care and Maintenance

Nasturtiums are the set-and-forget kind of plant, but a little love goes a long way:

• Watering: Water regularly until established. After that, they’re pretty drought-tolerant but do best with consistent moisture.
• Mulch: A light mulch helps retain moisture and keeps weeds down.
• Feeding: None required — feeding encourages too much leafy growth.
• Support: Trailing types can sprawl beautifully across beds or climb trellises with a little guidance. Compact types need no support.

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🌼 Companion Planting Guide

Nasturtiums aren’t just pretty — they’re pest magnets in the best possible way. They draw in aphids, whiteflies, and cabbage moths away from your prized veggies. Plus, they attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and bees.

🌿 Great Companions:

• Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale): Trap crop for aphids and cabbage white butterfly.
• Tomatoes: Attract pollinators and deter whiteflies.
• Beans and Peas: Help suppress weeds and attract pollinators.
• Zucchini and Cucumbers: Deter squash bugs and encourage beneficial insects.

✨ A ring of nasturtiums around your veg patch can work like a soft security fence — pretty but purposeful.

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✂️ Harvesting

All parts of nasturtiums (except the roots) are edible and worth harvesting:

• Leaves: Young and tender for a peppery salad kick.
• Flowers: Beautiful and mild — perfect for garnishing dishes or floating in drinks.
• Seeds: Green seeds can be pickled as a ‘poor man’s caper’.

Harvest flowers and leaves regularly to encourage more growth. If you’re collecting seeds for eating or saving, let a few pods mature and dry on the plant.

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🐛 Common Issues and Fixes

Issue	Symptoms	Fixes
Aphids	Clusters on new growth, sticky residue	Hose off, encourage ladybirds, or use homemade soap spray
Cabbage white butterfly	Green caterpillars eating leaves	Hand-pick or use butterfly netting if planted near brassicas
Powdery mildew	White powder on leaves in humid weather	Improve airflow, water at soil level, remove affected leaves
Leggy growth, few flowers	Tall plants with few blooms	Cut back and reduce nitrogen-rich feed; plant in poorer soil
Root rot	Wilting despite moist soil	Improve drainage; avoid overwatering

🧡 These plants are tough — most issues are cosmetic and won’t affect their overall charm or usefulness.

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🌸 Seed Saving Guide

Saving nasturtium seeds is easy and rewarding — perfect for kids or beginner gardeners too!

1. Let a few flowers form seed pods. These look like little green pebbles after the flower fades.
2. Allow the pods to dry on the plant until they turn brown and drop to the ground.
3. Collect seeds from the soil or snap them off by hand.
4. Dry completely in a well-ventilated area for about a week.
5. Store in a paper envelope in a cool, dry spot. Label with variety and date.

Seeds stay viable for up to 5 years if kept cool and dry!

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🌻 Final Thoughts

In my own garden, nasturtiums weave their way through pathways, veggie beds, and pots — adding not just colour, but character. They remind me that gardening doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful or productive.

Whether you’re after colour, pollinators, edible garnishes, or a handy ally against pests, nasturtiums deliver in spades. They’re the kind of plant that rewards neglect but thrives with attention — perfect for busy gardeners, curious kids, or anyone who wants to get more out of their growing space.

So go on — tuck a few seeds in wherever there’s a gap. You’ll be surprised how much joy they bring.

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Delivery Guarantee

We take great care to make sure your seeds arrive safely. If your order is lost or damaged in transit, we’ll happily send a replacement. Unfortunately, we can’t replace or refund orders that arrive later than the estimated delivery date, as delays can sometimes occur that are outside our control.

Please note that all dispatch and delivery times listed are estimates only. While we do our best to post promptly, delivery timeframes can vary due to postal service delays, weather events, or other unforeseen circumstances. We’re unable to take responsibility for any loss, damage, or cost that results from a late delivery.

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