Nasturtium challenged

[eirish]

I know nasturtiums are supposed to be so easy that anyone can grow them without trying, but I've never had any luck with them. In pots, in the ground, from seed, from bought plants, pampering them, neglecting them, nothing seems to work. I don't think I've ever had more than a handful of leaves and maybe one flower.

So tell me, oh great nasturtium gurus, what are the secrets of your success?

[Peas'n'Kews]

Ignore and abuse the buggers and they'll grow like stink!!!!

Ours didn't do well until later in the year last year and now I have their babies all over the front garden, in the drive, the back garden, and I'm sure if I didn't shower, in my hair!!!!! <joke, I don't shower.... >

[taff]

I'm going with that one this year too. Out of 25 seeds, I managed to get 4 plants. They've been dotted around in various places and the one in the place with the worst soil, think dry, stony, no goodness, is doing the best.

[veggiechicken]

I can't grow them either! The harder you try, the less chance you have. My best success came when I tipped the packet out in disgust, along with other seeds that I find difficult (like marigolds ). Up they came, but all in the wrong place of course!!

[eirish]

I'm going with that one this year too. Out of 25 seeds, I managed to get 4 plants. They've been dotted around in various places and the one in the place with the worst soil, think dry, stony, no goodness, is doing the best.

That's about the germination rate I've had, too. I stuck 'em in the worst soil spots - but nowhere is dry this year, maybe that's the problem!

Maybe I'm trying to hard to abuse them?

I have to admit, this has been partly spurred by seeing the pictures of the nice bushy plants in my sister's garden. Jealous!

[Two_Sheds]

My self-seeders have only just appeared on the lotty: it's been too cold & wet up till now

[alldigging]

Mine have all failed. I assumed it was the seeds.
My friend sent me a photo of his 8th floor balcony covered in them this morning.

[chris]

I've had 4 plants out of a packet too. Never grown them before, but have munched on the flowers that we've had off them - seriously hot!

[Currysniffa]

I've grown some dwarf nasturtiums this year from seed. I put a few in planters by the front door. Its the first year I grown them.

[eirish]

Thanks for all the replies so far - glad I have some company in my nasturtium struggles! So how about a more specific question: how do you start them?

[bradlo]

Thanks for all the replies so far - glad I have some company in my nasturtium struggles! So how about a more specific question: how do you start them?

I know it's probably wrong...but I started mine off in individual seed pots in the Greenhouse...they pretty well all germinated...now they are planted outside and sort of surviving! But not sure the constant rain is helping matters much !!!!

P S Don't take much notice of what I say as I an a complete novice!

[Kaiya]

I sowed mine in a mushroom pot - those plastic ones, and put it in my 'cold frame' blowaway. I sowed them 11/3 and they germinated and grew on in that spot of good weather we had in April. I planted them out 12/5. They were over 8 inches and tangled up (I had about 8 in one 6x4 inch mushroom pot) when I planted them out (just pulled them apart and chucked them in). Now they are small bushes about 8-10 inches across, some trailing over the paths as well. Something has eaten one flower but otherwise they are probably the happiest things on my allotment.

I've never grown them before so pretty much trial and error. My French Marigolds sown similarly didn't do well at all.

[taff]

I think I sowed them too early, as TS said, it's been too cold and wet. If I'd sown them back in march when it was hot [!] thay'd have been fine, but expecting them to head out of cold wet compost probably did for them.

[Currysniffa]

I germinated mine in a heated prop just to speed them up a little (Feb).Then they sat in a windowsill for a few weeks before getting potted on and move into a greenhouse.

[Gearoid]

I just sow them directly outside but wait until April or early May. I find that if the ground is nice and moist (but not too moist that the seed rots!) then they get growing quickly. I continue to sow them in any gaps in the border right through June and July so it's still not too late to try again.