Have you planted these in your garden? Fun plant to grow from seeds. Nasturtiums

image from gracefulgardens.com 

Have you planted these in your garden?  Fun plant to grow from seeds.  "Nasturtiums"

WOW it is such a nice day.  Sun, fluffy cumulus clouds, slight breeze and only at 75F(24C) mild day as the humidity is only at 39% .  Enjoy the day, stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends for their Sunday June 21, will have only 58F(15C) with 85% chance of rain.  This will make it a cool, damp winter day, I am thinking.  Stay warm, stay safe. 
 
I found this article and I had forgotten about these plants.  I have some seeds so should start some in a pot.  Do you plant them this year?
Nasturtiums: Flowers You Can Eat!
Prized for their sweet-spicy flavor, these mounding heirlooms are among the most widely grown of all edible flowers. With a bit of a peppery tang, Nasturtium blossoms are often added to salads as a zesty garnish, and a sprinkling of colorful Nasturtium blossoms lends the perfect finishing touch to cold Cucumber soup or pineapple sorbet.
We adore the deep blue-green, lilypad-like foliage of Nasturtiums almost as much as their flowers. We use the edible leaves as doilies under cheese platters, cakes and individual soup tureens. They can also be added to salads for a dash of peppery spice.
Nasturtiums flower profusely from early summer until the first fall frost. Mounding/Bush varieties are great for borders and containers, while Climbing/Trailing varieties are suited to window boxes, hanging baskets and trellises. You'll be charmed and amazed at their cheerful colors and vigorous growth.
They're So Easy to Grow!
While you certainly can start Nasturtium seeds indoors, it's easiest to sow them directly into your garden beds in well-draining, loamy soil after the last frost date (find yours HERE.) While they will grow in partial shade, Nasturtiums flower more profusely in full sun, though in hot climates they appreciate a bit of protection from the sun in the hottest part of the day.
Plant the seeds 1" deep, since they require darkness for optimal germination. Keep the bed uniformly moist until the seedlings emerge, up to 10 days after sowing. Weed and keep the bed well-watered until the plants are established. Thin or transplant the seedlings to 8" to 12" apart in the garden.
Believe it or not, Nasturtiums perform better in soil that's lean rather than rich. If the plants have easy access to too much Nitrogen, they will produce a sea of foliage and few flowers. Nasturtiums are drought-tolerant, but perform best when moderately watered once established. They flower best with cooler nights.
Did You Know?
If you've ever grown Nasturtiums, you know that watching water droplets bounce and dance and bead up on its leaves is almost as wonderful as enjoying the flowers. You would think that Nasturtiums would be closely related to the Lotus plant, whose leaves are also superhydrophobic, but they're not even remotely related. In fact, Nasturtium leaves are even more hydrophobic than Lotus leaves, and they've inspired scientists at MIT to design better water-repellent fabrics based on their unique leaf structure. Fascinating!
Taken from Kitchen Garden seeds
Till next time this is Becky Litterer , Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse