Growing Nasturtiums in Cottage Gardens
Nasturtiums are old favourites in cottage gardens. Although mostly used as bedding plants, they will also climb, trail or add spice to your salad.
Nasturtiums are homely plants that most people like to have around because they are cosy and familiar. Bright, cheerful and easy going, their very lack of temperament has meant they have attracted little in the way of keen interest from most com-petitive growers.
Fuchsias, delphiniums and others can become an obsession and have whole books dedicated to describing their likes and dislikes, but the obliging nasturtium usually warrants a mere few lines at best. However, there is far more interest to these humble charmers than this lack of at-tention would suggest.
A place in history
Nasturtiums were well known in Elizabethan England. Their peppery leaves and attractive flowers were much prized as an ingredient of salads. In fact, the name Nasturtium rightly belongs to that other peppery character, watercress. The confusion arose as the newcomer from the West Indies came to be known as Indian Cress. The plants correct botanical name is Tropaeolum majus.
Since their introduction hundreds of years ago, nasturtiums have maintained a steady popularity. No self-respecting cottage garden could do without their vibrant colours shades of orange, red and yellow and easy ways. In more modern times they have continued to prove their worth. They need very little attention, which is a real bonus for those busy people with little gardening time.
When people think of nasturtiums they are usually picturing that annual favourite, Tropaeolum majus or the gar-den nasturtium. However, there are several others in the same genus, coming in three main groups; climbers, trailers and bedding varieties. Their versatility makes them ready, willing and able to adapt to life in any kind of container, a useful trait, especially if you are short of space.
It is possible to grow some as perennials, while others are too tender to survive all but the mildest of winters. Some have the lush, vibrant good looks of jungle creepers while even the more familiar garden nasturtium has several exotic varieties, such as Alaska, with its splendid, marbled and blotched variegated foliage.
Several species are natural, born climbers. Perhaps the most unusual, in terms of colour, as well as one of the most difficult to find, is the herbaceous Tropaeolum azureum, which bears small, purple-blue flowers late in the summer. Although this plant is techni-cally a perennial, it will not survive frost, so must be seen as an annual in areas where winter frosts are inevitable.
T. peregrinum, also known as T. canariense, is the well-known canary creeper – named for its canary-yellow flowers rather than for any connection with the Canary Islands. This is another frost-tender plant that will only survive the winter in the mildest of climates. Its small, bright flowers are set off by grey-green leaves. It will grow to a height of 2m/6ft or more.
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