With the dry summer we’ve had my nasturtiums are just now coming into their own glory. For the last several years I’ve planted them in the corners of our raised beds in the back garden area.
The area typically stays damper than the front gardens and doesn’t get near the sunshine. Nasturtiums really thrive in those conditions.
It took the plants forever to get started this year because of the drought like conditions we’ve had.
The entire plant is edible. Flowers, leaves, stems, and even the seeds. Some folks say they make faux capers from the seeds. I’ve never tried that.
The taste of nasturtiums is reminiscent of the bite of a radish or even horseradish, yet different. I’ve added the leaves and blooms to salads, but mostly I nibble on the plants when I’m out working in the garden.
Nasturtiums come in a variety of colors. I have deep red, orange, and yellow. I adore their leaves because water will pond up on them and shine like a diamond.
I also love the flowing nature of the plants.
We’ve already pulled out all the cucumbers in the back beds so the nasturtiums are free to roam over the entire area. They’ve almost completely filled the beds and are now hanging out on all sides.
Nasturtiums can also be used medicinally. The leaves, blooms, and seeds have properties similar to antibiotics.
Chatter made us a few jars of nasturtium tincture a couple of years ago. When the whole family took sick during the winter we all dosed ourselves with the medicine. Let me tell you the tincture was one of the vilest things I’ve ever tasted! But it did seem to help me feel better.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite flower because I love so many, but there’s no question nasturtiums would be at the top of the list for their great beauty and usefulness.
Tipper
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My nasturtiums didn’t do well this year. I live in rural western NY State. We had a really wet spring and summer. My nasturtiums were pitiful this summer compared to other years. Other than lilacs, nasturtiums are my favorites. Your nasturtiums have been gorgeous all year long… ❣️
Monet loved nasturtiums. They lined the borders of his flower bed and spilled into the walkways . . .
How do you make tinctures? I’ve made salves but that’s about it.
Mary-tinctures are made by steeping the plant in high proof alcohol 🙂
Being short on space I planted nasturtiums in old wheelbarrows, often with other florals and herbs…perfect along the edges due to their draping quality. So pretty to decorate charcuterie boards, in salads, on tea sandwiches and everything else! How I miss not being allowed to put plants outside our first floor windows. These happy flowers are therapeutic smiles, miss growing things so much. Prolific in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Nothing to do with flowers but with Ed’s comment about rain. In my area, it began to rain late yesterday afternoon and has been raining every since, even now as I am writing this. It has been one of those slow “soaking in” rains-ever drop has went into the ground. This is the first good rain we have had since the first of August. We did get 2 tenths of an inch last week out of the forecasted 2-4 inches from the Hurricane. The ground was so dry that last week’s rain hardly did more than settle the dust for a couple of hours. Thank God for every drop that falls.
Thanks to your love of nasturtium and me seeing how lovely yours are, I planted them this past spring. And you ain’t kidding……..they are gorgeous. I went through a rough spot with them in the summer when we had some 100 degree days, but they have bounced back. A few even reseeded themselves and started to grown under the planters! I am wondering though: Will I need to replant next spring or with they reseed themselves over the winter? What is your experience?
Cindy-I’ve never had them reseed, but the seeds are easy to save. Just lay them out and let them dry and then plant again next year 🙂
Your nasturtiums are always beautiful, I admire them greatly. Mine didn’t grow this year. When I have a good year with them I’ll have to make some tincture. For most things I prefer herbal medicine so I make a good many tinctures. They are disgusting, lol. I figured part of that was the vodka that you use to tincture, it’s so harsh. Thankfully with a tincture you only need to take a few drops at a time. They are effective though and they are shelf stable for a long time.
So beautiful! I think the leaves are just as pretty as the flowers. It’s great to know you can eat them and use them for medicinal purposes too.
Glory! LIFE’S EXTRAS (always give credit to the booklet by Archibald Rutledge when I write that) that God gives us just because He loves us; and can. Glory! Y’all are amazing!
I laughed when you mentioned how vile the tincture tasted. There’s a saying in my family that the more vile the medicine the faster you will get well – so you don’t have to take that medicine anymore. We always have nasturtiums around our area. Some newcomer to the area thought they were weeds and started to take them out of the church garden. The locals set her ideas straight in a hurry and educated her about the many uses of nasturtiums. She became huffy because she thought gardens were supposed to look like magazine gardens. She was told that there’s useful plants and then there’s the decorative but useless plants. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Your nasturtiums are so pretty and vibrant. Due to the drought, I pulled mine up too soon but there’s always next year.
Blessings to all!
I grew nasturtium this year after I had seen you really taking about its beauty. I thought it was gorgeous. Then my water lines busted and so nasturtium got taken out. If I live til next year though…. God bless you all and if you pray please pray for me. Nasturtium is lovely and the leave shaped like stars is beautiful to me!
I’m not sure if those would grow here in Oklahoma where we live. I need to check on that. I especially like the orange ones. We certainly have been hot and dry as well this summer. The mornings seem to be cooling off slightly so hopefully Autumn will soon be here. I’m with Matt on this hot weather….the “fun” has worn off!!!!
I knew the flowers were edible but wasn’t aware the entire plant was as well. I also wasn’t aware of its medicinal properties. Beautiful and useful.
They are lovely. Thanks for sharing!
Those are beautiful flowers. It’s good to learn about their food and medicinal qualities too.
They are so pretty. A good thing to that you can eat them as well. I planted my purple buttons and not many came up. But the few that did, I sure am enjoying them. They are one of my favorites.
The nasturtiums you have in your garden are so pretty. My favorite might be the red ones but they are all lovely to see, altogether and grown out. The leaves look celestial to me. All of these are the reasons I got some of that seed for this year. Thank you for the tip of what conditions they thrive in. I thought mine were not getting enough sun and too much water(from everyday watering). They just did not grow out like yours do. We have not tried to eat any just bc of how puny they have been. Maybe the cooler temps and this rain we got yesterday will help them grow out. I am leaving them until a freeze gets them and will try again next year. Thank you for this garden inspiration!
when I first saw the flowers, I thought of jewelweed, it grows on the side of the road and Creek Banks here, in North Georgia, the hummingbirds like it, God bless your Tipper have a great day,
Every Wednesday about a dozen (occasionally several dozen) of us gather on Hogback Mountain for a dinner that has been taking place for decades. Our friend Maisie Newell often brings salads made from wild edibles and flowers from her garden, usually including nasturtiums. She and her partner Eric and their four kids regularly play contra dances and other musical events all around these mountains and hills of Maine which, in my mental map, are part of Appalachia even if the term is regionally restricted in its common use. We are blessed to have this talented family provide music at many of our potluck dinners. https://www.ecologylearningcenter.org/event-details/twitchell-hill-fiddleheads
Do folks in your parts gather fiddleheads? They are one of my favorite wild edibles.
Mike-what a wonderful tradition! Folks here do gather fiddleheads but I never have.
Yes indeed, nasturtiums are the perfect flower for those corners; we also have them in our garden raised beds. And isn’t nibbling while you garden one of the simple joys of life? Back when we had a really big garden I would munch edible weeds, like lambs quarters and purslane, as I worked the rows. Isn’t it discouraging that rural gardening has declined so much? Where once nearly everyone grew a sizable garden where I grew up, now few are in evidence.
Beautiful nasturtiums!
I trust you are getting some rain this morning. It rained all day yesterday and all night last night here. It’s still raining a little.
I agree! My nasturtiums are so pretty right now!!
Try mixing the dosage of nasturtium tincture with a few ounces of water or juice next time. I’ve only met a few tinctures that can be palatable straight, one being Solomon’s seal root. It taste like chocolate to me.
I’m sure they look beautiful! Mine didn’t do too good this year. It was first time planting them though.
Beautiful….I don’t think there is a flower, even a weed flower, that you don’t love and appreciate. Thanks for the tour. Blessings to Granny and you guys.
There is something about nasturtiums and, for me, astilbes as well. They are both so beautiful that they add a magical fairyland quality to every spot they’re planted. I love many flowers, but it is hard to stop looking at nasturtium and astilbe plants.