Companion Planting Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are a very pretty flower to add to your garden and they are also a useful ally in the organic garden. Companion planting Nasturtiums amongst any crop that gets attacked by aphids will help to save your crop. Use the Nasturtium as a sacrificial plant, aphids are attracted to nasturtiums and will attack them ahead of any other plant..

Companion Planting Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are not only useful as a trap crop but are also a great repellent to other plant pests. They can be grown easily and are a pretty plant attractive to many pests so are a very handy plant to grow. Pollinators are also attracted to the nasturtium flower making it a powerful ally in the organic garden.

How To Grow Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums will grow in pretty much any soil type but don’t use soil that is too fertile. If the soil is too fertile all that will grow will be foilage, and no flowers. Just sprinkle the seeds on the soil in Spring wherever you want the plants to grow and firm in. Keep moist but not over watered and they will thrive.

Nasturtiums As Trap Crops

Grow Nasturtiums near Broad Beans or Runner Beans and the aphids that attack the beans will be attracted to the nasturtiums. This works with any plant that is susceptible to aphid attack.

Nasturtiums As Protection Plants

Grow Nasturtiums as a protective barrier around the following:-

• Tomatoes
• Cabbages
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Squashes
• Fruit Trees

Nasturtiums deter wooly aphids, whiteflies, and the pests that attack Cucumbers, Melons and Squashes.

Growing Nasturtiums as companions to Radishes will improve the flavour of the Radishes.

By planting Nasturtiums in the vicinity of the roots of fruit trees every year will help the trees to take up the smell from the Nasturtiums to repel pests.

Nasturtiums As Food

The leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. The leaves taste peppery like water cress, as do the flowers. The seeds are also known as poor mans capers.

Seed Saving

If you don’t eat all the seeds they can be saved easily and stored for the following Springs crop. Just keep them in a cool, dark, dry place and sow as above.