Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is a genus of plants belonging to the Capuchin family. The origin is Peruvian. There are about 80 species. It used to be popular, but recently it is rarely found in flower beds and in balcony boxes. But in vain, it is not only highly decorative, but also very useful. It is used in cooking and decorating dishes, as well as in folk medicine.
There are many varieties of this plant. Among them there are compact bush forms with a height of about 35 cm and curly ones with shoots up to 3 m. The leaves also differ significantly: uniformly green, variegated, purple, with shading or spots. The flowers are simple or double, of various colors - dark red, scarlet, pink, orange, yellow, salmon, cream.
Beginner growers often wonder how to plant nasturtium. It can be sown on seedlings or immediately in open ground, but in May, when the soil warms up. Its seeds are large, it is advisable to soak them for a day in hot (55 o C) water. You need to sow to a depth of 4 cm, it is desirable to place 2 seeds in each hole. Shoots appear, as a rule, within two weeks. In case of return frosts, they needcover with something, for example, an agrospan.
When growing seedlings, it is advisable to sow the seeds in separate containers, because the root system reacts painfully to injury. Flowering of plants begins 45 days after germination and can last until frost if wilted flowers are removed. If you want to collect seeds, wait, it should take about 50 days to bloom.
Prefers moist, fertile soils and sunny locations nasturtium. Growing and caring for an excess of nitrogen fertilizer will result in a large green mass and poor flowering. And she needs phosphorus top dressing, especially during the formation and blooming of buds. To form a large number of flowers, watering from the moment of flowering should be minimized. Poorly tolerates the tightness of nasturtium, the cultivation and care of which should be carried out without thickening plantings. Otherwise, its shoots are exposed from below, and the decorative effect drops sharply. The optimal distance between plants is about 25 cm.
Ampel nasturtium looks very impressive in hanging planters. And if you grow Tropaeolum peregrinum, called Canarian or foreign, then all the guests will be surprised at this miracle. Its lashes are long, the leaves are small and dissected. The flowers are medium-sized, bright yellow with green spurs, and the petals are corrugated. She looks a little like her relatives.
Essentially a perennial plant - nasturtium. Cultivation and care in our country due to coldin winters it is carried out as for a flyer. But if you wish, you can save your favorite specimens until the next season. To do this, before freezing, they need to be dug up with minimal loss of roots and planted in some kind of container. Place in a cool, bright place, water infrequently.
Nasturtium is a good helper for summer residents. Growing and caring for this plant helps in the fight against vegetable pests. This wonderful flower, planted in a greenhouse between tomatoes, is able to scare away whiteflies. And for white butterflies, nasturtium serves as an object on which they lay their eggs without damaging the cabbage. Earth fleas also like its succulent leaves, so it "takes the hit", allowing vegetable crops to grow undamaged.
Nasturtium is very diverse. Growing and caring for different forms can be used for different purposes. Bush forms are usually planted in the foreground of flower beds and mixborders. Curly varieties cover unsightly fences or withered trees, for which only the trunk with part of the skeletal branches is specially left.
According to the old belief, nasturtium protects from disappointments in business and personal relationships. Growing and caring for it relieves stress and overwork. Plant this wonderful plant, it will bring you not only beauty and benefit, but also peace of mind.
