{"id":310,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=310"},"modified":"2025-08-04T03:47:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T03:47:46","slug":"nasturtium","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/nasturtium\/","title":{"rendered":"Nasturtium"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Tropaeolum majus<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Indian Cress, Monks Cress<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Nasturtium is officially an annual trailing plant<\/b>, but it behaves more like a perennial because it self-seeds so prolifically<\/b>. In practice, once you plant it, you\u2019ll rarely be without it \u2014 new seedlings will pop up year after year with little effort. It typically trails to about 40\u202fcm, but will happily climb fences, trellises, and even other plants<\/b> if given the chance.<\/p>\r\n

It grows across a wide climatic range<\/b>, from cooler temperate zones (where it\u2019s best replanted each spring) right through to subtropical gardens, where it often reseeds and grows nearly year-round.<\/p>\r\n

Sun requirements:<\/b> Nasturtiums love full sun, but the leaves can get a bit bitter in the peak of summer, so plant a few in semi-shade too \u2014 that way, you\u2019ll always have tender leaves to pick.<\/p>\r\n

Water & soil:<\/b> They thrive in poor soils and don\u2019t need fertilising \u2014 in fact, rich soil will give you more leaves and fewer flowers. They are surprisingly drought-hardy<\/b> once established, but a bit of water will keep them lush.<\/p>\r\n

Propagation:<\/b> Almost too easy! You can:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Scatter seeds<\/b> directly (they\u2019re big, easy to handle, and germinate quickly).<\/li>\r\n
  • Take cuttings<\/b> \u2014 they\u2019ll root in water or soil.<\/li>\r\n
  • Divide clumps if they\u2019ve settled in.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    They also do brilliantly in pots and hanging baskets<\/b>, where they cascade beautifully, and make an excellent living mulch<\/b> under taller plants, shading the soil and repelling pests like aphids and whitefly.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Nasturtium isn\u2019t just pretty \u2014 it\u2019s packed with nutrition<\/b>. The leaves are particularly high in vitamin C<\/b> (about 45 mg per 100g \u2014 nearly half your daily needs), which supports the immune system and helps the body absorb iron. They also contain iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium<\/b> in useful amounts.<\/p>\r\n

    Herbalists consider nasturtium a powerful natural antibiotic<\/b> \u2014 it\u2019s been traditionally used to help the body fight off coughs, colds, and infections. It\u2019s also believed to boost circulation and support healthy skin.<\/p>\r\n

    Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    Vitamin C booster tea<\/strong> \u2013 Fresh nasturtium leaves steeped in hot water for immune support.
    Leaf poultice<\/strong> \u2013 Crushed leaves on minor cuts (folk antibacterial use).
    Hair rinse<\/strong> \u2013 Infusion of leaves & flowers applied to scalp for shine & strength.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Nasturtium leaves have a peppery bite<\/b>, like a milder, juicier version of rocket. Some love it, some find it strong \u2014 so start with a few leaves until you decide how much zing you like.

    <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \"\"\r\n
    The Nasturtium bounty – leaves,\u00a0
    flowers & seeds.

    <\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Leaves:<\/b> Use fresh in salads and sandwiches. They also make great wraps for soft cheese or p\u00e2t\u00e9.
    Flowers:<\/b> Bright and edible \u2014 they add colour and a mild sweetness to salads (kids love them for their sweet nectar).
    Seeds & buds:<\/b> The green seeds and unopened flower buds can be pickled as \u201cpoor man\u2019s capers.\u201d<\/b> Dried seeds can be ground and used as a pepper substitute<\/b> \u2014 milder than black pepper but still a nice kick.<\/p>\r\n

    Cooking the leaves isn\u2019t ideal \u2014 the flavour becomes strong and dominates the dish. Keep them raw for best taste and nutrition<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    Simple recipe ideas:<\/b><\/p>\r\n

    – Peppery Salad Mix<\/b> \u2013 Toss a few nasturtium leaves and flowers with lettuce, cucumber, and avocado for colour and a spicy twist.
    – Herb Butter<\/b> \u2013 Finely chop leaves and mix into butter for a zesty spread for bread or corn.
    – Poor Man\u2019s Capers<\/b> \u2013 Pickle the green seeds in vinegar and use them just like capers in pasta or salads.
    – Stuffed Nasturtium Leaves<\/b> \u2013 Roll soft goat cheese or cream cheese inside large leaves for an easy appetiser.
    – Edible Garnish<\/b> \u2013 Use flowers to top omelettes, cakes, or even cocktails for instant wow-factor.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n
    • Pest repellent:<\/b> Nasturtiums are famous for drawing away aphids<\/b> from other crops like kale and broccoli \u2014 plant them as a natural \u201ctrap crop.\u201d<\/li>\r\n
    • Living mulch:<\/b> Their trailing habit shades the soil, suppresses weeds, and keeps moisture in.<\/li>\r\n
    • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens, ducks, and rabbits will nibble the leaves happily.

      <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

      Self-seeds like crazy<\/b> \u2013 once you have nasturtiums, you\u2019ll likely always have them.
      Multiple edible parts<\/b> \u2013 leaves, flowers, and seeds all useful in the kitchen.
      Hardy and forgiving<\/b> \u2013 thrives on neglect, handles poor soil, and keeps on producing.<\/p>\r\n

      This is one of those plants that feeds you, brightens your garden, helps your soil, and brings colour to every plate \u2014 a true survival garden candidate.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Nasturtium is a colourful, edible plant that\u2019s as happy rambling over garden beds as it is climbing fences or spilling from hanging baskets. With peppery leaves, bright flowers, and edible seeds, it\u2019s a hardy, cheerful survival plant that adds both nutrition and beauty to your garden.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":160,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[38,43],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-310","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-cooler-climate-plants","7":"product_cat-salad-leaves","9":"first","10":"instock","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=310"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=310"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}