Sunday, July 13, 2008 
...ready for picking and tasting, but I can't bring myself to eat them yet. There are so few flowers blooming on my balcony that I'll for now I'll just enjoy these naturtiums with my eyes rather than taste buds.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007 
I sowed two varieties of nasturtium seeds on June 20th, 7 weeks ago. All the seeds germinated by day 10 and now after 49 days of coddling, these are the survivors and thrivers. Several plants succumbed to heat-stroke and a couple provided tasty munching for plump worm-like bugs that I hope were, in turn, food for the birds. I also harvested a few leaves to add a peppery flavour to salad.
Today I observed lot of leaves and a few buds. Flowering is supposed to begin within 10 weeks of sowing. When the first flowers appear, I will write up the results of this "experiment" in late season sowing and growing in small containers. I recall reading somewhere that nasturtiums like to put their roots deep and wide so I think they are probably too cramped. I may also have used soil that is a bit too rich -- it contains my mom's superb compost.
Here are the two dominant puppies in the litter:
Thursday, June 14, 2007 Besides competing with my mom to see who has the best germination stats by the end of the growing season (I'm currently 0 for 12), I want to make pretty, delicious Nasturtium Salad from this video recipe blog, Food Wishes.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 ......and undervalued -- at least by me, until today.
I learned interesting and fun facts about these flowers when I searched the Web for growing tips.
Rather than cut and paste excerpts, I will link to the sources:
- for information on varieties and growing tips go to BBC Gardening
- for interesting facts and creative ideas for adding zest to the look and taste of foods, visit Sally's Place
- and for exquisite photos, go to lightspectral's nasturtium photoset and collage.
