Heirloom

Trailing Nasturtium Mix

Tropaeolum majus

Photo: Allie_Caulfield from Germany · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 2.0)

Flowers in red, rose, orange, and yellow. Perfect for hanging baskets and containers, or even as a ground cover. Will "climb" if tied to upright supports. Also known as garden nasturtium and Indian cress.Edible Flower: Use the flowers as garnishes, or stuff with soft cheese. The flowers can be minced and added to butters and the immature seed heads can be pickled. Nasturtiums are a popular choice for adding color to salad mix. Peppery-flavored foliage is also edible.

Harvest

55-65d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-10 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Trailing Nasturtium Mix in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Trailing Nasturtium Mix · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil; tolerates sandy or clay soils

WaterModerate; water regularly but allow soil to dry between waterings

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorPeppery, slightly spicy flavor with subtle peppermint undertones, similar to watercress.

ColorRed, rose, orange, and yellow

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Succession Planting

Direct sow nasturtium seed every 3 weeks starting April 1 through June 15 in zone 7. Each succession gives you roughly 8-10 weeks of good bloom before heat and powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) start degrading the planting. Soak seed overnight before sowing — the coat is thick and germination is faster for it, typically hitting the 7-day end of the 7-14 day window rather than the 14.

Stop sowing by mid-June. Seed started after daytime highs are consistently above 90°F tends to germinate poorly and the resulting plants never catch up before the worst of summer hits. One more round direct-sown in mid-August can carry you into fall; nasturtiums will bloom right up to the first hard frost, which in most of zone 7 falls somewhere between late October and mid-November depending on your elevation.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Trailing Nasturtium Mix reaches harvest at 55 - 65 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Edibility: All parts, with exception of the roots, are edible. It has a spicy flavor.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh nasturtium flowers should be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container or plastic bag with a damp paper towel, lasting 3-5 days at 35-40°F with moderate humidity. Avoid washing until use to prevent wilting. Preservation methods include: (1) Drying flowers on screens in a cool, dark space for 1-2 weeks, then storing in airtight containers for up to 6 months; (2) Pickling immature seed heads in vinegar brine for 2-3 weeks shelf life; (3) Freezing whole flowers in ice cube trays with water for up to 3 months, ideal for garnishing beverages.

History & Origin

Trailing Nasturtium Mix is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Central and South America

Advantages

+Vibrant red, rose, orange, and yellow flowers brighten hanging baskets instantly
+Fully edible flowers and peppery foliage add unique flavor to salads
+Quick 55-65 day growth makes it ideal for seasonal container gardening
+Versatile plant climbs on supports or cascades as ground cover
+Easy difficulty level suits beginner and experienced gardeners alike

Considerations

-Attracts aphids heavily, requiring frequent monitoring and organic pest management
-Prefers cool weather and struggles in hot, humid summer conditions
-Needs consistent moisture but is prone to root rot if overwatered
-Poor performance in rich soil causes excessive foliage over sparse flowering

Companion Plants

Nasturtiums pull double duty in a mixed planting. They draw aphids — specifically black bean aphid and green peach aphid — off cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and beans, concentrating the colonies on foliage you're not harvesting. Cabbage family crops get a different benefit: Pieris rapae adults prefer to lay eggs on nasturtium leaves over kale or broccoli when both are available, so the nasturtiums absorb the caterpillar pressure. Marigolds and radishes sit alongside them without friction because none of the three compete hard for the same shallow root zone, and the planting stays open enough to stay workable. Lettuce tucked under trailing stems can pick up a little shade in late spring, which may buy an extra week before it bolts in the warming weather.

Keep fennel at least 18-24 inches away — it releases root exudates that suppress many annuals, and nasturtiums are among them. Black walnut is a harder constraint: the juglone it produces leaches through soil and rain runoff, and in our zone 7 Georgia gardens, where walnut trees are common on older properties, that means siting nasturtiums well clear of the drip line — not just the trunk. Sunflower competes aggressively for water and tends to shade out lower-growing plants, so it's less about chemistry and more about the nasturtiums simply getting crowded out before they establish.

Plant Together

Cucumber

Nasturtiums repel cucumber beetles and squash bugs while attracting beneficial predatory insects

Tomato

Nasturtiums act as trap crop for aphids and whiteflies, protecting tomatoes from these pests

Radish

Nasturtiums deter flea beetles that commonly damage radish leaves

Beans

Nasturtiums repel Mexican bean beetles and aphids while attracting pollinators

Cabbage

Strong scent deters cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests

Squash

Acts as natural pest deterrent against squash bugs and cucumber beetles

Marigold

Both plants work synergistically to repel nematodes and various garden pests

Lettuce

Provides ground cover and pest protection while lettuce grows in partial shade beneath trailing vines

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits nasturtium growth and can cause wilting

Sunflower

Produces allelopathic compounds that can stunt nasturtium growth and development

Fennel

Inhibits growth of nasturtiums through allelopathic root secretions

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, whiteflies, cabbage moths

Diseases

Powdery mildew, leaf spot, stem rot in humid conditions

Troubleshooting Trailing Nasturtium Mix

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Clusters of small soft-bodied insects massed on new growth and stem tips, leaves curling inward

Likely Causes

Aphid infestation (commonly black bean aphid or green peach aphid) — nasturtiums are notorious aphid magnets, which is partly the point, but it can get out of hand
Ants farming the aphids, protecting them from predators in exchange for honeydew

What to Do

1.Blast colonies off with a strong jet of water from the hose — do this in the morning so foliage dries before evening
2.If the infestation is heavy, spray with insecticidal soap (follow label dilution, usually 2-3 tablespoons per gallon of water)
3.Check for ant trails and disrupt them; ants actively guard aphid colonies from beneficial insects like parasitic wasps

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer on older leaves first

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) — spores spread in warm, dry air with high humidity at night, which is most of a Georgia summer
Poor airflow from crowded planting at spacings under 12 inches

What to Do

1.Pull and trash affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Thin plants or cut back trailing stems to open up airflow
3.A baking soda spray (1 tablespoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon horticultural oil per gallon of water) can slow spread on remaining healthy leaves; it won't cure what's already coated

Ragged holes chewed in leaves, with small dark pellet-shaped frass nearby

Likely Causes

Cabbage moth larvae (Pieris rapae caterpillars) — nasturtiums planted near brassicas draw egg-laying adults away from the food crop, so some damage here is the system working
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) caterpillars can also feed on nasturtium foliage, especially later in the season

What to Do

1.Hand-pick caterpillars and drop them in soapy water — check the undersides of leaves, that's where they hide during the day
2.If you planted nasturtiums specifically as a trap crop, let them take the damage and pull the whole planting at season end before larvae pupate in the soil
3.Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) as a foliar spray if hand-picking isn't keeping up; it's effective on young caterpillars and won't harm pollinators

Stems turning dark brown and soft at the base, plant wilting even when soil is moist

Likely Causes

Stem rot — usually Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp. — most common in heavy clay soils or beds with standing water after rain
Overwatering combined with high summer humidity; nasturtiums want the soil to dry out between waterings and don't tolerate wet feet

What to Do

1.Pull the affected plant — there's no saving a stem-rotted nasturtium — and don't replant the same spot with nasturtiums this season
2.Amend that bed with coarse compost or perlite before the next planting to improve drainage
3.Water at the base, not overhead, and cut back frequency: in well-drained beds nasturtiums typically need water only every 5-7 days in summer unless conditions are extreme

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take trailing nasturtium to bloom?▼

Trailing nasturtium typically begins flowering 55-65 days after planting. However, you'll often see the first blooms appear earlier, around 40-50 days. Continuous flowering occurs throughout the growing season if you deadhead spent flowers regularly and provide adequate sunlight and water.

Is trailing nasturtium good for beginners?▼

Yes, trailing nasturtium is excellent for beginners. It's marked as an easy-grow variety that thrives with minimal care. It tolerates a range of soil conditions, adapts to full sun or partial shade, and doesn't require fertilizing (too much nitrogen reduces flowering). It's forgiving of neglect and ideal for first-time gardeners.

Can you grow trailing nasturtium in containers?▼

Absolutely! Trailing nasturtium is perfect for containers and hanging baskets, which is its primary use. The trailing habit cascades beautifully over edges. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure containers have drainage holes. Regular watering is needed as container plants dry faster than in-ground plantings.

What do nasturtium flowers taste like?▼

Nasturtium flowers have a peppery, slightly spicy flavor similar to watercress, with a subtle peppermint undertone. The taste can vary from plant to plant. They work well in salads, as garnishes, or stuffed with soft cheese. The immature seed heads (called capers when pickled) offer a peppery, mustard-like flavor.

When should I plant trailing nasturtium?▼

Direct sow trailing nasturtium seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil is warm, around 60°F or above. In warm climates, you can also sow in fall for winter blooms. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days under proper conditions. Alternatively, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost for earlier transplanting.

How much sun does trailing nasturtium need?▼

Trailing nasturtium thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. While it prefers full sun for maximum flowering, it's tolerant of partial shade in very hot climates, where afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch. Less light may reduce flower production.