Shredded Nasturtium

Just noticed the hailstorm nearly took out my one remaining plant.



Still got some smaller leaves on though Never had one survive thru to January before.

 

We've still got some that's intact.

Every year I collect the seeds from the most successful plants plus a much smaller number from the other ones just to ensure a bit of diversity in the gene pool. As a result, each year mine have been progressing from the pale pastel shades on plants that die on the first hint of frost, to fairly bold colours on plants that survive often until January. Last year I noticed that some of them had learned to climb pretty well too, whereas the originals from the seeds I bought about 12 years ago couldn't climb at all.

 

This one's been making a run for the front door, think he wants to come in

 

I've got some too ....when I read this thread, I popped outside to have a look at them to see how they were doing.

When I first started growing from seed but only in a minor way, I only planted yellow nasturtiums from seed and some variegated nasturtium plants I bought with peachy coloured flowers. I got ill and so the garden was then left to it's own devices. The nasturtiums self seeded the next year and so I left them due to illness to do their own thing. In 2013 I was amazed at the colours of the flowers on the nasturtiums that grew. There were different shades of red going from light to darker reds, deep orange and paler orange shades along with yellow and paler peach colours. I thought that bees had cross pollinated the flowers with other red nasturtiums growing in neighbouring gardens. I've collected some of these seeds so it will be interesting to see what happens this year.......I also noticed that some had started climbing too.

 

Do you eat them? My mum used to grow them under a window and used to use them quite regularly.

 

I lob a few in salads Bit nose twisting though.

 

Just clicked on your location Lea, it thinks you're in America

 

Oh, it thinks I am too

 

I've never eaten them...but caterpillars seem to like them!

 

It's got mine right! Didn't you know you were in America?
.

 

In fact the name 'nasturtium' is based on some latin or greek or something meaning 'nose twister'.

 

Am I in America??? When did that happen? Have I been sleepwalking again???

 

I don't think you're in Kansas anymore

 

I thought it was Welsh for Nasty Tortoise.