Why every vegetable garden needs nasturtium
Nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus ) is one of those plants that simply makes you happy: easy, colorful and multifunctional. You sow it as soon as the risk of night frost has passed (from Ice Saints onwards), and then it does almost all the work itself – from attracting pests away from other plants to helping butterflies and brightening up your salad. Not convinced yet? We have many more reasons why nasturtium is actually indispensable in your vegetable garden.
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When buying seeds, it is useful to know that there are roughly two types:
- Climbing (trailing) species: These species have long stems and can creep or climb for meters. Ideal for along a trellis or as ground cover.
- Non-climbing (compact) types: These Tropaeolum types stay lower and grow more like a clump. They are perfect for pots, hanging baskets, edges of raised beds or as a filler between other plants.
Whether you grow on a balcony, in a raised bed or a larger vegetable garden: this plant makes your garden healthier, more colorful and tastier. Here are 9 good reasons to give nasturtium a permanent place in your vegetable garden plan.
Nasturtium attracts aphids, which is an advantage in the vegetable garden! Place these plants strategically next to aphid-sensitive vegetables such as broad beans , runner beans or peppers. This way you ensure that the bugs attack the Tropaeolum majus instead of your harvest and you protect your other plants in a natural way.
Read more tips in our article on combating aphids (without poison).
Where many other plants are eaten by snails, nasturtium is often spared. A smart choice for those who want to enjoy cheerful flowers without the endless battle with slimy gluttons.
Tip! In this article you will find even more plants that snails do not like .
Almost everything on the Tropaeolum majus is edible. The red, orange or yellow edible flowers have a spicy flavour and are a festive addition to salads or herb butter. You can also eat the young seed pods, for example pickled as an alternative to capers. And the young leaves are also edible. Wash them well, because a bite of lice is less tasty…
- Our best tips for year-round cooking from your own garden
- From terrace to allotment: vegetable gardening is possible everywhere!
- With recipes from famous Dutch and Flemish chefs
Are you short on space? No problem. Tropaeolum majus does well in pots, raised beds or even hanging baskets. This way you can enjoy colour, edible flowers and natural pest control on your balcony or terrace.
Tropaeolum seeds germinate quickly, the plant grows quickly and has few demands on care. This makes it ideal for novice gardeners or children who like gardening and want to see results quickly.
If you are doing companion planting , the cheerfully flowering Tropaeolum majus is a must. This good neighbour attracts pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, and helps to keep unwanted visitors away from your vegetable plants. You can alternate it with herbs such as basil or with other useful annual flowers, such as marigolds and marigolds ( Calendula officinalis ) , for even more natural balance in your vegetable garden.
If you let some plants flower, seed pods will develop that will easily sow themselves . With a bit of luck, you will be surprised in the spring by spontaneously emerging new plants.
Tip: If it grows in a place you don't want it, dig it up carefully and transplant it to the desired location.
Tip!
Cabbage whites like to lay their eggs on the leaves of the Tropaeolum . That may sound like a disadvantage, but it actually works to your advantage: they lead the butterflies away from your cabbages. Because the plant grows quickly, it can handle this pressure well - and with this host plant you simultaneously support the butterfly population in your garden.
Tropaeolum majus is an annual plant that you can enjoy for months. From the first bloom in early summer until late summer, you can enjoy an explosion of color and the liveliness that the plant brings to your (vegetable) garden.
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