Nasturtiums Seeds

Hello,

I want to grow nasturtiums, but have had terrible 'luck' with the seeds over the past three years ... get next to no return ... though in earlier years I had a good return, plus volunteers for a year or two. Any idea why this might be ... and suggestions for where to buy seeds?

Thanks.

Everything I've read states they do better in poor soil, so if you are adding supplements to your garden as you go along and the soil is getting more rich, it could have an effect on your nasturtiums. My mother doesn't have stellar soil but she has trouble growing them also, and I'm thinking it is because she has a high clay content to her soil and not a real good drainage in her rows.

I've had success in rockier, sandier soils with a good drainage, no matter the seed source.

Last year I tore up a patch of grass and chopped up the underlying soil. I threw the nasturtium seeds in and covered them up with a half inch of soil. They were slow to get going but once they got their roots firmly planted, I had to call in the chicken patrol to help trim them back.

Very pretty picture!!!

Thanks ... your feedback got me thinking and now I have some new ideas : )

Dear Ramone, what my mom taught me about growing Nasturtiums is to use a bit of sandpaper(120 grit or so) to score the seed husk before planting. This method helps a great deal. This method also works well with lupine. Greetings from Houston, Alaska

You may want to try soaking your seeds for 12-24 hours before sowing them. I soaked mine and had all germinate and grow successfully.

Good luck!

You can just bust the seed coat off with your finger nail if you want, but it's not needed. It is only hard when dry--it softens after a day in the ground.

They don't come back in my climate, because they are too wet. They rot. I don't know how well they handle the cold.

They tend to do well in poor soil because they produce a better flower to leaf ratio. Feed it nitrogen an you cover an acre with one of these things|! lol Not a bad thing imho.