Nasturtiums

[SpookyShoe]

Oohhhhh.....that salad looks good.

[SpookyShoe]

I read that some in my area grow these as winter flowers successfully. I'm going to give it a try. I started seeds for two pots today.

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[MsCowpea]

. Oddly enough I’ve never seen aphids on my nasturtiums, and I’ve grown them for years.

Grow them every year. Never had aphids either or any other bug.

I get transplants from nursery as germination is so spotty whether I start indoors or direct seed. I have soaked the seeds, filed them, etc etc.
Done everything suggested on internet. I don’t know if it is the heat that effects them or what. Do you have have any tricks to get a good transplant?

Your salad looks like it came from gourmet restaurant and you would have to pay a lot of money for it too!

[peebee]

Here, they grow so well & fast that I have to pull them out a few weeks in or they'd take over the entire garden. When friends see the abundant plants they would invariably ask for seedlings, but I warn them to be careful what you ask for. Soon enough, they're complaining about the "weeds"
I try to avoid them going to seed but I can't get them all. I have probably every color & bicolor & even variegated leaves, but I only planted 1 packet over 20 years ago. They must love the Mediterranean climate here, even with the added drought.

[MsCowpea]

. They must love the Mediterranean climate here, even with the added drought.

On second thought it couldn’t be the heat/rain as I am not trying to grow them during Florida summer or Sept. Your comment reminded me that starting in October and onwards the weather starts getting much milder. I did start 3 packets inside about 2 weeks ago and nothing has germinated. (I soaked them overnight.). In the past when I direct seed some don’t come up and those that do are spindly and weak looking, yet I can get store transplants , plant them in the same spot, and they do beautifully.

Saw these at extension research center in northern Florida.

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[Amateurinawe]

Nasturtiums easy to grow in uk, love to just scatter the seed around. Have an area of garden that is "our beach" with shingle, pebbles, grasses, "love in a mist" and a smattering of nasturtiums (haven't managed to get the sea lapping at our shore thou). They have some lovely wild growth and flowers and I find the smell quite fresh and unique. They can be a magnet for aphids at particular times of the year but then that is also good food for other predators - so as long as keep in check its okay.

[SpookyShoe]

I use a cuticle clipper to nick nasturtium and morning glory seeds, and soak them in water for about 6 hours. I put the container with the water on a heating pad set on the lowest setting. I get good germination.

[MsCowpea]

Spooky Shoes, I will try your technique—nick and soak over heat. Right now I have some in dark, some under lights, on heat, no heat. All were soaked. In past tried sandpaper on them
but maybe didn’t take off enough.