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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is one of the most popular garden plants. They are mainly found in cottage gardens. If you want to benefit from the flowers early on, you can grow nasturtium in the house with the right instructions.
In a nutshell
- Pulling up strengthens young plants for the time in the bed
- ensures earlier flowering and maturity of edible plant parts
- use nutrient-poor substrate
- Soaking the seeds shortens germination time
- Preparing often cheaper than buying already "ready" young plants
Best time
Because germination as well as the development into a young plant takes a certain amount of time, the time for the start of pre-cultivation should be chosen so that the young plants can already bloom in the garden bed from mid-May. This results in an optimal time window between the middle and the end of March.
You can also start growing nasturtium at a later point in time. However, the first flowering is then delayed. Pre-breeding only towards the end of April is therefore not worthwhile, because from mid-May it can be sown directly into the bed with less effort.
Nasturtium seeds keep longer in paper bags.
Guide to Prefer
To prefer nasturtium the following utensils needed:
- small plant pots or seed boxes
- Nasturtium seeds
- translucent film
- nutrient-poor substrate or special potting soil
- if necessary, wooden sticks as climbing/stability aid
So it is with sowing Step by step to proceed:
- Fill pots with soil to about 1/2 inch below the rim.
- Press one or two seeds per pot about 1.5 centimeters deep into the soil surface.
- Keep a planting distance of between 20 and 30 centimeters.
- Cover the seeds only about one to two centimeters thick with soil, as nasturtiums are dark germs.
- Moisten the soil moderately with lime-free water. It shouldn't be too wet.
- Finally stretch a foil over the pot.
- Spend the cultivation vessel in a light and warm location. Windowsills or greenhouses are recommended. If the ambient temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, avoid direct sunlight. That's not good for the seeds.
- After a germination period of about 10 to 14 days, the first seedlings appear. At temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius, this can sometimes take up to 20 days.
Tip: If you want to reduce the germination time, you should place the seeds in warm water for about five hours before sowing. This softens the hard seed coat and moisture gets into the seed interior more quickly, making it easier for the seedling to “break through” from the seed core through the shell.
care during breeding
Preparing the nasturtium should not be left to its own devices after sowing. A few care measures are required so that germination occurs and the young plant can form:
- Open the foil daily so that air can be exchanged
- when the foil is open, it is advisable to check the moisture and, if necessary, to re-soak
- Every three to four days turn the pot evenly towards the light if it shines on one side
- as soon as germination is visible, remove the foil
- keep the soil slightly moist afterwards
- prick out when plants are four to five centimeters high
- place in normal nutrient-rich substrate
- Stabilize climbing varieties later with toothpicks or kebab skewers
Tip: Use a spray container to water. This prevents the seed from being washed out. In addition, the surface of the earth is easier to keep moist without water sinking to the ground and, in the worst case, mold forming.
Plant out nasturtiums
Nasturtiums should never be placed in the garden bed or in the outside planter before the ice saints in mid-May. In principle, they do not tolerate frosty temperatures, as they can still occur up to then. The young plants in particular are very sensitive. Therefore: wait until mid-May before planting in the bed and putting them out.
Tip: The individual specimens, whether bushy or with climbing shoots, can now be placed in suitable groups in the bed. So every growth form comes into its own.
frequently asked Questions
Do all varieties of nasturtium need the same amount of time to germinate?Usually yes, if they find the same conditions. This refers above all to the same seed depth, watering quantity and frequency, ambient temperature and location. It can already make a difference if some seeds are to germinate in the greenhouse and others indoors on the windowsill. Even the smallest changes in light intensity and humidity can cause germination to progress differently over time.
Why should the nasturtium be pricked?Plant the seed in nutrient-poor soil. It doesn't take long after germination for the plant parts that grow above ground to become stronger. To do this, they need nutrients, which is why they should be carefully transplanted from the nutrient-poor soil into nutrient-rich substrate.
What are the chances of success when pre-breeding with seeds?Almost all seeds of the different varieties of nasturtium are considered robust - apart from the sensitivity to frost. With the instructions above, germination works well. However, the seed quality is also important when it comes to preferment. If this is old or has been stored unfavorably, the chance of germination is low. It is therefore advisable to only buy quality seeds from reputable manufacturers or to ensure that seeds you collect yourself are stored correctly.