Nasturtiums are casual country creepers

Sunset, Feb, 1995 by Lynn Ocone

Plant now to give your garden the patina of age in just one season

Only a nasturtium can thrive on benign neglect and come out smelling like a rose." So says Mary Lou Heard, owner of Heard's Country Gardens in Westminster, California. At her nursery, perky nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) twine up chairs, spill from baskets, and creep along the edges of flower beds. "Nasturtiums are enjoying a great comeback," she says. "They're an essential part of gardens with a casual country look."

Heard believes the soft colors of new varieties like 'Moonlight' and 'Creamsicle' are stimulating fresh interest in the plant, but the bright, vivid colors of traditional favorites like Whirlybird and 'Empress of India' are the ones that really hook gardeners. "Even people who don't care for oranges and reds in their gardens make exceptions for nasturtiums," she says.

Nasturtiums are easy to grow (ideal for children), and they reseed readily. These frost-sensitive plants naturalize on and near the coast and are grown as annuals in colder regions. Spring is the best time to plant. "Nasturtiums take off fast from the very first breath of spring," says Heard, "and they give you that full garden look in one short season."

PLANTING AND CARE

Sow seeds now in mild areas, after danger of frost has passed in colder regions. Plant in a sunny spot (afternoon shade inland) with well-drained soil. Nasturtiums thrive when their roots are cool and moist, not soggy: Also, plants that get too much water or fertilizer produce large leaves but few flowers.

Heard has a theory on maintenance: "Nasturtiums look best when you don't pay attention to them," she says. "The more you let them overtake the garden, the better they look." She lets her plants go from spring through fall, pulling them when they get rangy around November.

Nasturtiums sometimes attract aphids. In fact, some gardeners plant nasturtiums to draw the pests away from neighboring plants. If your nasturtiums become infested, simply pull them out and plant new ones, since they grow so fast.

FORMS AND COLORS

Nasturtiums range from compact types less than 1 foot tall to climbing varieties that reach 6 feet or more.

For patio containers or low borders, or to fill in flower beds, choose compact mounding plants like 12-inch Whirlybird. 'Empress of India' is another good choice. It forms cascading mounds, making it a showstopper in hanging baskets. Vigorous trailing types, including 'Glorious Gleam' and 'Moonlight', show off best rambling through gardens and over fences, walls, or banks.

Deep reds and oranges are the traditional colors in the nasturtium palette. But several varieties break the mold. Among them are 'Creamsicle', with petals of swirled pastels highlighted by a deep red throat, and 'Peach Melba', with yellow petals accented at the throat in raspberry. 'Moonlight' has luscious pale yellow blossoms, while the blooms of 'Sungold' are a deep butter yellow.

SEED SOURCES

Many nurseries have good seed selections, although less-common types tend to sell out early. Nasturtiums described here are offered by these mail-order sources:

The Cook's Garden, Box 535, Londonderry, Vt. 05148, (802) 824-3400; catalog $1.

Shepherd's Garden Seeds, 6116 Highway 9, Felton, Calif. 95018, (408) 335-6910; free catalog.