Growing Hydroponic Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a beautiful plant with vivid and beautiful flowers. The entire plant is edible, from its flowers to leaves, stems and even seeds. These plants were once called “Indian cresses” because they were introduced to Europe from the Americas, which was then known as ‘The Indies’, and the plant was used like cress as a salad ingredient.
These beautiful, edible plants grow fantastically in hydroponics. They germinate easily and add a stunning variety of colors to your edible indoor garden. The flowers, leaves, stems and even seeds are edible, and all have a peppery bite.
The leaves become sweeter as they age, and the flowers have a floral flavor to combine with the pepper taste, as you would expect. The peppery taste makes a wonderful addition to salads and garnishes but can also be used to make salad dressings and much more. Even the seeds are edible and have their own peppery flavor. They are sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s capers” as they are a tasty treat when pickled. But don’t eat the nasturtium seeds you buy to plant. Old seeds harden and are not fun to chew on. There are a surprising number of ways to use your nasturtiums!
Nasturtium is said to be high in vitamin C, antioxidants and contains a variety of important minerals.
One downside of nasturtium is that it may attract aphids, so make sure to keep an eye on your crop and treat it at the first sight of any problems. Fortunately, aphids can be taken care of easily if found early, as we describe in this post.
| Hydroponic Nasturtium | ||||
| Germination | Light | EC Range | pH Range: | Time to Harvest |
| Easy | 14-16 hours | 0.8-1.6 | 6.0-7.0 | 4-6 weeks |
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Nutrient and Health Info - Most resources claim that nasturtium is high in vitamin C and antioxidants.
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Tips & Tricks - These edible flowers are super easy to grow. Set, forget and nibble.
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Germination:
7-10 days is all you’ll need for your nasturtium to germinate. In fact, it will often happen in just a few days. And, within 4-6 weeks, you can expect to see buds and even flowers blooming. These edible seeds are large and easy to handle. Make sure you do not consume older seeds, as they become quite hard. Young, fresh seeds are relatively soft and tasty.
Light:
Nasturtium is a flowering plant, so more light is better. 14-16 hours a day is ideal.
EC Range:
While Nasturtium is a flowering plant, it flowers without a particularly high EC range. Keep your EC between 0.8 – 1.6, and you’ll have lots of nasturtium flowers. Nasturtium grows well with bok choy, dandelion, marigold, peas, cauliflower and more!
pH Range:
Keep your pH range between 6.0 and 7 for your nasturtium plants. Fortunately, almost everything will grow great in this range!
Nutrients:
Nasturtium flowers easily, so you’ll do great with our Green Machine nutrients. But, if you want even more flowers and you’re growing your nasturtium with other flowering plants, add 50% Flower Power nutrients to your system for even more incredible results.
Time to Harvest:
Nasturtium grows and flowers quickly, and you should see buds or even flowers in 4-6 weeks from planting.
Pruning and Harvesting:
You can pluck and consume the flowers, leaves, and stems of these beautiful plants. While plucking the stems and flowers will not hinder growth, make sure to keep enough leaves to allow your nasturtium to continue to photosynthesize and produce new growth.
Conclusion:
These pretty little flowers are a joy to grow and add wonderful flavors and garnishes to salads and meals. Like Dandelion, marigold, and viola, they bloom quickly and add wonderful color to your garden and your plate. Enjoy!
Check Out Our Nasturtium Recipes!
Let’s grow together!