A Birth Announcement - Blossom Is Born!

Friday, May 16, 2008

I love nasturtiums. I find both the flowers and the leaves incredibly beautiful - the colors, the shapes... Plus you can eat the flowers - not only do they look gorgeous atop a bed of salad greens, they also lend a nice peppery flavor to each bite. So this spring I decided to take matters into my own hands and grow my own. In early March, I planted a packet of nasturtium seeds in some potting soil. Below is a photo of one of the seedlings shortly after it sprouted its first two leaves.


First leaves on nasturtium seedling

I've spent the last few months impatiently waiting for them to grow bigger and generally pampering them -- checking the leaves for bugs and viciously killing any that I found, watering them daily, and dousing them with a truly foul-smelling fish-based organic fertilizer. First nasturtium flower!

It seemed to be taking forever for them to grow (it probably did not help that I checked several times a day) but about two weeks ago, I noticed that the plants were finally starting to establish themselves, sending out their thick runners and lots of new greenery. Even more exciting were the tiny buds they produced.

And today all my over-anxious parenting finally paid off. When I went outside just now, I was greeted by the first blossom! It's perfect and gorgeous -- a thrilling deep, vibrant orange with a yellow center and the most delicate thin brown lines.

And I see lots more buds that promise a gorgeous crop of edible nasturtium flowers in the near future.

I have to admit that I feel just a little bit like a miracle worker right now (even though I know the nasturtiums did all the truly miraculous work.)

This proud parent's advice is to go plant something and nurture it and watch it grow. You may have to spend some time picking off bugs and watering and such but you won't regret it!

6 comments:

Bramblemoon Farm said...

I love nasturtiums too, and that is a pretty one. You'll have to try all the other varieties too, and then you'll become addicted like I am. LOL I have some started inside this year, and then I'm sowing seeds outdoors tomorrow. It's still in the 30's here some nights so I have to go slow.

Jenn said...

You actually *planted* nasturtiums? I'll have to read more to see where you live. I am about to tear up som enasturtiums to put in some dill and some lavender, maybe one of my rosemary plants.

Never fear - they'll be back. They are tasty but they are more tenacious than any weed. They are ubiquitous in the bay area -- I'll get some pictures posted someday soon. :)

Eve Fox said...

Good luck, Brenda!

And Jenn, yes, I know they tend to grow like weeds but I could not be happier about that. I live in Berkeley and while there are lots in our neighborhood, there were none at our house until I planted them a couple months ago. They're in some flower pots and in part of a tiered planting area leading up to the house so I don't think they can really go all that far (though I would not personally mind if they did :))

Jenn said...

I'm going to pull some up this week - you wanna come and grab some for salad? I'm over in Temescal/Rockridge. :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Ah, welcome little one!

Anonymous said...

Edible flowers - nasturtiums- believe it or not.... you CAN kill nasturtiums in Montana! Where we live on the great plains, they do not grow like weeds. We have to plant them every year. Very little here survives the windy dry winters. BUT--- the advantage to planting every year is that the flavor is 'brighter' with new stock. You will all love this website! From organic to edible.... see it all :-)

Friday, May 16, 2008

A Birth Announcement - Blossom Is Born!

I love nasturtiums. I find both the flowers and the leaves incredibly beautiful - the colors, the shapes... Plus you can eat the flowers - not only do they look gorgeous atop a bed of salad greens, they also lend a nice peppery flavor to each bite. So this spring I decided to take matters into my own hands and grow my own. In early March, I planted a packet of nasturtium seeds in some potting soil. Below is a photo of one of the seedlings shortly after it sprouted its first two leaves.


First leaves on nasturtium seedling

I've spent the last few months impatiently waiting for them to grow bigger and generally pampering them -- checking the leaves for bugs and viciously killing any that I found, watering them daily, and dousing them with a truly foul-smelling fish-based organic fertilizer. First nasturtium flower!

It seemed to be taking forever for them to grow (it probably did not help that I checked several times a day) but about two weeks ago, I noticed that the plants were finally starting to establish themselves, sending out their thick runners and lots of new greenery. Even more exciting were the tiny buds they produced.

And today all my over-anxious parenting finally paid off. When I went outside just now, I was greeted by the first blossom! It's perfect and gorgeous -- a thrilling deep, vibrant orange with a yellow center and the most delicate thin brown lines.

And I see lots more buds that promise a gorgeous crop of edible nasturtium flowers in the near future.

I have to admit that I feel just a little bit like a miracle worker right now (even though I know the nasturtiums did all the truly miraculous work.)

This proud parent's advice is to go plant something and nurture it and watch it grow. You may have to spend some time picking off bugs and watering and such but you won't regret it!

6 comments:

Bramblemoon Farm said...

I love nasturtiums too, and that is a pretty one. You'll have to try all the other varieties too, and then you'll become addicted like I am. LOL I have some started inside this year, and then I'm sowing seeds outdoors tomorrow. It's still in the 30's here some nights so I have to go slow.

Jenn said...

You actually *planted* nasturtiums? I'll have to read more to see where you live. I am about to tear up som enasturtiums to put in some dill and some lavender, maybe one of my rosemary plants.

Never fear - they'll be back. They are tasty but they are more tenacious than any weed. They are ubiquitous in the bay area -- I'll get some pictures posted someday soon. :)

Eve Fox said...

Good luck, Brenda!

And Jenn, yes, I know they tend to grow like weeds but I could not be happier about that. I live in Berkeley and while there are lots in our neighborhood, there were none at our house until I planted them a couple months ago. They're in some flower pots and in part of a tiered planting area leading up to the house so I don't think they can really go all that far (though I would not personally mind if they did :))

Jenn said...

I'm going to pull some up this week - you wanna come and grab some for salad? I'm over in Temescal/Rockridge. :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Ah, welcome little one!

Anonymous said...

Edible flowers - nasturtiums- believe it or not.... you CAN kill nasturtiums in Montana! Where we live on the great plains, they do not grow like weeds. We have to plant them every year. Very little here survives the windy dry winters. BUT--- the advantage to planting every year is that the flavor is 'brighter' with new stock. You will all love this website! From organic to edible.... see it all :-)