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going to attempt to grow nasturtiums - any advice?
I'm a complete novice and I was hoping to grow some nasturtiums from seed. I have perlite and potting soil is that enough? I'm in the west coast of Scotland (cold and windy) so was thinking of starting them inside and moving them out in March? (Provided they grow!) Also just realised I bough annual instead of perennial!
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Nasturtiums are annuals in our climate.
Sow one seed per 3 inch pot of multipurpose compost in March. Plant out after last frost. They don't need a lot of protection once germinated, but will need hardening off well from biting winds , which can dessicate fleshy leaved seedlings quite quickly.
Move out after all danger of frost has passed. March maybe too early depending on where you are.
Nasturtiums are great plants.
Wildlife friendly, grow on poor soil, then can be added to compost at the end of the season. And they're even edible.
They're annuals, but they also self seed, so once you've got some established they will likely re-appear every year. Or try saving seed yourself for the following year as well.
I'd be inclined to find the sunniest spot you can and push some seeds straight into the ground after the last frost. They really love poor soil, anything super fertile will give you lovely vegetation but not so many flowers.
Careful about composting the seed, you will have them appearing all over the garden in no time.
Full sun, treat them mean to keep them keen
They are easy, I grow them every year in Sweden, so Scotland isn't going to be a problem. Sew indoor and when planting the seedlings outside, trow out some more seeds, then the flowering period gets longer.
I grow them as an vegetable and eat the flowers, the leaves and the seed while it is green.