Nasturtium (capuchin) belongs to the Nasturtium family, there are a total of 90 different species. It has South American roots, but in a harsher climate it grows just as well.
Nasturtium gained popularity due to its unpretentiousness in care, the presence of healing properties, and good taste. It has a division into perennial and annual species.
Description and features of nasturtium
The plant is a vine with a strong stalk, some species are represented by shrubs. The leaves of the plant are lobed, the flowers are ordinary, there are 2 species, semi-double and double. Consist of 5 petals, depending on the variety, their number may increase. Shades are represented by yellow and red, buds are endowed with healing properties.
Types and varieties of nasturtium
Nasturtium has a huge variety of species and varieties, each of them is unique, has many features. Consider the most popular of them.
Foreign
Shoots in height can grow up to 3.5 m. Flowering of medium duration, begins in mid-summer, ends with the onset of the first frost, the duration depends on the region of cultivation.
Has small flowers, a beautiful yellow tint. The leaves of the shoots can be 5 or 7 separate. When grown in the middle latitudes of the country, the seeds do not have enough time to ripen.
Big
Shoots are fragile, but very branching. They grow 2.5 m in length. Varieties are erect and creeping. Both subspecies are perfectly used in the decoration of gardens, gazebos.
Flowering begins in the first month of summer (June), ends with the onset of autumn. Self-sowing is excellent for this species, the seeds are able to maintain germination for 4 years, under proper storage conditions.
This species has several varieties, each of which is not similar to the others:
| Grade | Flowers |
| King Theodore | Differs in bright red color of petals. |
| Peach Melba | A visiting card is the presence of red spots on cream-colored buds. |
| Salmon Baby | Semi-double structure, endowed with a salmon shade. |
| ladybug | Apricot color, inside of which there are small burgundy spots. |
Cultural
It is a hybrid species. Shoots have dense foliage, green, purple. Most recognizable for standing out against the background of other species. Varieties are divided by height:
- Compact - grow up to 0.5 m in height.
- Creeping - the longest, up to 4 m in length.
- Dwarf - small, only 20 cm.
These criteria include varieties:
| Grade | Description | Height (cm) | Flowers |
| Gleming Mahagani | Low. | Up to 40. | They have a terry structure in red. |
| Golden Globe | The bush grows in the shape of a ball. The leaves on the shoots also have a round shape. | 25. | Hue yellow, golden |
| Moonlay | The tallest of these | length reaches 200. | The color is chicken. |
Small
The shoots are thin, well branched, but of small stature, maximum 35 cm. The leaves grow in the form of a shield, slightly round in shape. The flowers are small in size, yellow in color with dark spots on the surface.
Flowering begins in June, ends in October.
| Grade | Description. Height (cm) | Flowers |
| Black velvet | People called it “Lady’s Mobile”. 30. | Maroon, beautiful color of the buds, in some places is very close to the black shade. |
| Cherry rose | A small bush. 30. | Endowed with a terry structure, bright red. |
Thyroid
Represents creeping shrubs, with very fragile, but juicy stems. The shoots are dark green in color, can reach a height of up to 4 m. The leaves are also a dark green shade. The flowers themselves have a beautiful, rich red color. Flowering begins in June, the end falls in October, however, it depends on the region, with early onset of frost, flowering is reduced.
Most flower growers love a variety called Lucifer. It has erect bushes, the height of which reaches 25 cm. The stems are green in color, the leaves are large, also of a green hue, sometimes they have an easy transition to dark red.
The buds are simple, orange-burgundy. In addition to the Lucifer variety, such varieties as Azure, Multi-leaved, Ciliated, Tri-color, and Fine are used for decoration. Nevertheless, these varieties are not suitable for cultivation in the middle latitudes of our country.
Features of growing nasturtium
Experienced flower growers distinguish 5 points that must be perfectly observed in order to achieve maximum results when growing nasturtium:
- This plant has southern roots, as a result, it is thermophilic. The landing time directly depends on this. If you hurry with this matter, there is a huge risk of losing seeds, as they simply die from the cold.
- In order to green some home premises, it is necessary to produce seedlings around April. It is recommended to grow seedlings exclusively in peat cups, or in special ones with a retractable bottom, as nasturtium has very delicate roots.
- Photophilous plant. Based on this, it is necessary to place the plant in a space that is well lit by sunlight, or in a light semi-shadow. Neglected, due to lack of sunlight, the plant will die.
- On the issue of soil, nasturtium prefers fertile, drained soil. Under such conditions, the plant will grow best, but the flowers will be poorly developed. In no case should you use fresh manure. Of fertilizers, complexes with phosphorus and potassium are recommended.
- For favorable growth, moist soil is needed. Young shoots require regular watering, only in this case they will have the opportunity to grow well. As soon as the nasturtium begins to bloom, watering is done only in case of drying out the soil, otherwise the plant will not be able to develop a sufficient number of flowers and leaves. In case of excess moisture, there is a risk of getting a rot disease.
Methods of breeding nasturtium
As with many other plants, for nasturtium, the most effective method of propagation is to sow seeds.
Often they are immediately sown in open ground, around the end of May, as soon as the frosts pass. To do this, first prepare special grooves, the depth of which should be no more than 2 cm, with a distance between them of at least 25 cm. It is recommended to place seeds of 2-4 pieces together, this is done so that a lush rosette is formed.
After planting the seeds in the ground, they must be covered with a layer of earth, but small. In the event of a cold snap, the landing site is covered with a film to keep warm. Shoots can be noticed after 10 days. Flowering seedlings begins a month later.
It is possible to get early flowering, for this nasturtium must be sown for seedlings in April. For this purpose, peat pots, sand and peat soils are used, they have 2-3 seeds. They are immersed in soil to a depth of not more than 2 cm. At the same time, containers with seedlings are placed in a place favorable for growth.
This is a sufficient illumination of the room, while the temperature in it should not exceed +22 ° C.
In the absence of the required amount of light in the room, the plant begins to grow actively, but at the same time it begins to hurt.
In order to preserve the signs of ornamental plants, flower growers recommend propagating by cuttings. This method is best used in greenhouse conditions. As soon as flowers appear, plants are planted in specially prepared soil in pots, or immediately in open ground. However, the issue of transplantation is very complex, since the root system of the plant is very delicate.
Outdoor Nasturtium Care
In order to create favorable conditions for nasturtium, you need to choose the most sunny place in the garden. In addition, the soil must be drained. If lime is present in the soil, the plant cannot be planted there.
Landing in the open soil is made in the first month of summer.
In order not to damage the fragile root system of the plant in any way, planting in the soil should be carried out in peat pots.
The soil should be moderately fertile. An important aspect in this matter is the difference between the groundwater on the site, otherwise the roots will begin to rot, the disease will rot. If planted with seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 20 cm between plants.
Immediately after planting, it is necessary to mulch the soil, this is done so that the weed grass practically does not appear.
Watering is necessary frequent, systematic, but so that the water has time to be absorbed into the lower layers of the soil, reaching the lower layers of the root system of the plant.
In order to ensure strong flowering resort to the use of top dressing based on potassium and phosphorus. Thanks to them, the seeds ripen quickly, then fall to the ground themselves.
If self-seeding is not needed, wilted flowers are immediately cut. Closer to autumn, the frequency of irrigation is reduced, ground processes dry out, nasturtium is completely destroyed.
Nasturtium Seed Collection
To collect seeds, one lash is left; dried flowers in which seeds are formed are not removed on it. They are green in color, rather large in size. At the time of receipt of the seeds, they are green. After 50 days, they mature, acquire a gray tint.
In order to get the seeds, you do not need to wait until they fall off and self-seeding occurs. Then, the seeds are placed in paper bags, where they expect the next warm season of the year.
Diseases and pests of nasturtium
Nasturtium is immune to certain diseases, pests. However, there are still ailments to which nasturtium is subject.
The most common is gray rot. It is expressed by orange-brown spots on the leaves. With the disease, infected plants are destroyed, burned. Neighboring plants are sprayed with a special solution, the task of which is to destroy the causative agents of the disease.
The use of nasturtium in landscape design
Nasturtiums are ground cover, bush and climbing. This is important to take into account, especially when planning a specific landscaping, decorative solution. It can be perfectly used to create artificial shade in gazebos, to create green fences. Also, with its help, you can hide visible flaws in the walls of buildings, for this you need to plant a plant right next to them.
Shrub varieties, it is recommended to place in large pots, are perfect for location near the entrance to the summer kitchen.
Growing nasturtium at home
This plant can also be used as a decoration for a balcony or windowsill. And not just as landscaping in the garden. Growing at home is practically no different from growing in open ground.
The only difference, the room in which the plant is located, will need to be aired more often, since it needs fresh air. And the rest is the same, watering, top dressing according to plan.
Mr. Dachnik recommends: healing properties of nasturtium
Nasturtium is considered to be a unique plant. It has not only a beautiful appearance, but also a list of useful properties.
In the chemical composition of the plant there are vitamins, trace elements. Young leaves are used in cooking, they are added to soups, sandwiches, salads, pastries, marinades.
The spicy aroma of nasturtium gives the meat a pungent taste.
In addition to culinary features, nasturtium is part of natural cosmetics. It is used against dandruff, various skin irritations on a person’s head. Also, individual components of the composition contribute to increased hair growth. From the seeds you can prepare a special decoction that needs to rinse your hair. This will give them shine and strength.
In addition to all this, this plant contains essential oil, which helps with digestive problems, and strengthens the overall human immunity. Creeper buds are excellent at relieving inflammation; nasturtium is part of ointments and various pain relievers.
There are medications based on this flower. They are used for hypertension, heart attacks, and colds.
In addition to the benefits for humans, the flower also benefits the garden. Thanks to the exuding smell, it scares away some insects from itself, and from other plants.
