Nastursiums

[jackie j]

I have grown these for the first time this year and I have decided I dont like them. The leaves are huge and absolutly covered in blackfly and catterpillars. I knew they would attract blackfly thats one of the reasons for having them.
I am sure I didnt have this many last year. Do I leave them or take them out.

[Flummery]

Wash them off and eat the plants! Leaves and flowers can go in a salad. If you leave them to set seed the fruits can be pickled like capers (although I prefer real capers!).

People plant them to attract the blackfly off other plants but I don't think they increase the overall density of blackfly in the area. Could be wrong though. I've never had so little to do that I've taken to blackfly counting!

[Two_Sheds]

If you can be bothered, pick off and compost the affected leaves (pests as well).

Otherwise, rip out the whole plant and compost it.

It's a shame, because nasturtium is one of my most favourite salad ingredients (hot and peppery, yum)

[jackie j]

Wouldnt like to eat them the state they are in, even after washing. I have never knowingly eaten any. I have always had blackfly on my orange blossom and hoped the nastturtiums would have them instead but not to this extent lol

[Lemon]

I used to like nasturtiums. Really easy to grow pretty flowers....but as you say, seem to be a landing spot for butterfly egg-laying. Have had some blackfly on the leaves but last year was so bad we ended up ripping up the plants and putting them in the council compost bin! Shame.

[srodders]

Watch out next year if you let them go to seed! I still hoe off several every day from the year before's "experiment" at growing them to draw off the blackfly. I think they are as bad as any weed that grows.

[Two_Sheds]

Srodders, they've got to be the easiest "weed" to pull up though.

[Alison Adams]

Maybe this is one of those 'loads more aphids' type years as our elder tree is also totally coated with them - enough that Im not sure about making elderflower champagne from it any more :-( It always gets blackfly, but I was shocked at the amount of them this year.

[sweetiepea]

If they weren't there just think how badly infested your other plants would be.

[jackie j]

If they weren't there just think how badly infested your other plants would be.

But have I got more blackfly because of the nasturtiums ?????? They are on everything

[duggie]

This is my 4th year of growing nasturtiums - and the first year I've had caterpillars! The little s*ds are munching the leaves faster than I can pick them off!