Funky Nasturtiums

I love nasturtiums. They are wild, flamboyant and unruly.

They are one of the quickest and easiest hardy annual flowers to grow, producing masses of vividly coloured blooms through summer and autumn.

They love a sunny spot and can be grown in pots or borders and even thrive in poor soil and do well in gravelly ground and rampaging across wind-protected banks.

The can be grown as climbers, bushy plants or trailers and will add a pop of colour through your garden or containers.

To grow nasturtiums, plant the seeds in mid Spring and right on through to mid summer to ensure continuous flowering.

To plant in a container, mix two-thirds peat-free multi-purpose compost with one third fine gravel or grit, to reduce fertility and ensure good drainage.

Place one or two seeds per container 1.5 cm deep into moist soil to speed germination, so water before planting.

Nasturtiums are easy-care and need little maintenance. Plants growing in containers should be watered to keep the compost evenly moist, but not fed. Look out for cabbage white butterfly caterpillars and aphids.

After flowering, collect the seeds and plant again next year.

How to harvest and use nasturtiums

Nasturtium leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. The flowers make a brightly coloured garnish to salads and other uncooked dishes. Nasturtium leaves have a peppery taste and should be picked when young for salads.

Go Potty!

Think creatively when it comes to your pots and planters!

Up-cycle and recycle stuff you already have and try to avoid buying plastic if you can. Save money and the planet.You can bring real individuality and personality into your garden by using unusual receptacles as planters.

I up-cycled a glass candle jar with a leopard print pattern to plant my nasturtium seedlings in. I think the colours will work really well together when they flower. I cleaned out the container once the candle was spent, added gravel and perlite for drainage. I then popped in two seedlings which I purchased at Coleman's Garden Centre near Templepatrick. I watered the seedlings, carefully topped with soil so as not to damage the roots and watered again. They are now in a sunny position in the potting shed and I will post photos when they flower.

That was a five-minute job that will add a bit of glamour to my summer garden!

A wide range of annual nasturtium varieties is available by mail order from seed companies, or from garden centres. Choose from mixed flower colours or opt for individually coloured varieties to create coordinated planted schemes.

• Nasturtium ‘Alaska’ – flowers in yellow, orange and red are shown off against cream and green marbled leaves. Bushy, 30 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Empress of India’ – crimson-red flowers and dark reddish leaves. 25 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Milkmaid’ – Creamy-white flowers on climbing/trailing stems. 180 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Paintbox Mixed’ – a mix of brightly coloured flowers that are more upward facing and hence visible than most. 30 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Salmon Baby’ – bright salmon pink flowers. 30 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Tip Top Velvet’ – dark red blooms that show off well against fresh green foliage. 30 cm high.

• Nasturtium ‘Trailing Mixed’, ‘Tall Mixed’ – masses of orange, yellow and red blooms on long stems that can climb or trail. 180 cm high.