Nasturtium climbing. Photos in the garden, planting, care, growing

Description of Nasturtium climbing

Nasturtium or capuchin belongs to the Nasturtium family and grows naturally throughout Latin America. This perennial vine has a succulent, strong stem from which numerous shoots arise. They reach up to 3.5 m in length.

The leaves of the crop are arranged alternately on the shoots, on long petioles. They have a lobed, shield-shaped or palmately divided shape. The edges of the plates are solid and wavy. The leaves are colored in light green tones, and light veins radiate from their center to the edge.

The flowering of the crop begins in June and lasts until September. At this time, single buds consisting of 5 petals are formed in the axils of the leaves. They resemble gramophones in shape and can be simple or terry. Depending on the variety, the petals are colored in red, pink, yellow and orange shades.

After flowering, fruits - achenes - are formed. As they ripen, they open and are divided into 3 separate seeds, which are used to propagate the crop.

There are about 80 varieties of climbing nasturtium.

But the following types are especially popular:

• Nasturtium tuberous. A herbaceous crop with shoots reaching up to 50 cm in length. It has green-blue, five-lobed leaves and red-yellow, gradient buds.
• Foreign nasturtium. The flexible shoots of the vine reach up to 3.5 m in length, and easily cling to any vertical supports. They are densely covered with light green corymbose-shaped leaves. The funnel-shaped buds of the variety reach up to 2 cm in diameter. The petals are colored yellow.

• Large nasturtium. The variety is distinguished by fragile stems, up to 2.5 m long. They are sparsely covered with round, dark green leaves located on long petioles. The buds of the plant are double or semi-double, reaching up to 6 cm in diameter. Based on the variety, many popular varieties have been bred: Alaska, Vesuvius, Salmon, King Theodore.
• Small nasturtium. A compact subshrub, the height of which does not exceed 35 cm. Its shoots are covered with shield-shaped, light green leaves. The buds of the crop reach up to 6 cm in diameter, and depending on the variety they can be simple or double.

Small nasturtium (T. minus)

The stems of the smallest type of nasturtium are thin, highly branched and reaching a length of 25–35 cm. The vines contain many medium-sized, round-shaped leaves on graceful long petioles. The yellow flowers with spots on the petals of the small nasturtium, with a diameter of only 3 cm, also match. The spurs of this species are short and slightly curved.

This is one of the most unpretentious nasturtiums, planting and caring for which is not difficult even for a gardener with little experience. The plant is successfully grown both in containers and in open ground. Flowering begins in June, and the seeds ripen well in the middle zone.

Conditions for keeping plants in the garden

Climbing nasturtium (the photo in the garden clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of the plant) is an unpretentious crop. But it gains maximum attractiveness if certain conditions are created for it. And for this you will need to choose a good site for her and provide her with proper care.

Lighting

The liana is quite light-loving, and for planting it it is better to choose a well-lit place on the western or eastern side of the site. Partial shade is also suitable, but then the flowering of the crop will be less long and lush. But the foliage of the vine will acquire the most saturated color.

Temperature

Nasturtium is a heat-loving crop, and the vine develops best at temperatures of +18...+25 °C. But it can withstand even more intense heat, provided that it is watered and sprayed frequently. In this case, the crop dies when the temperature drops to 0 °C, even with good shelter. Therefore, it is customary to grow it as an annual.

Nasturtium can be preserved only in cases where it is grown in flowerpots. Then the plant will need to be brought into a warm room.

You can also transplant a garden crop into a pot, but this should be done long before the first frost. And it is necessary to accustom her to indoor conditions gradually. That is, you need to leave it outside during the day and bring it indoors at night.

Humidity

Climbing nasturtium (photos in the garden help to evaluate the attractiveness of the crop) does not require high air humidity. But sometimes it is useful to spray the leaves of the vine, then they will acquire a rich color.

Soil and drainage

Nasturtium does not make any special demands on the soil, but the culture develops best in light, fertile soil with a slightly acidic reaction.

The liana does not tolerate stagnant moisture at the roots, so it is not recommended to plant it in lowlands, wetlands and places with close soil. And it is also necessary to make drainage in the flowerbed. To do this, at a depth of 35-40 cm, you should lay out broken bricks, clay shards, sand, 2-3 cm thick.

Watering

From mid-spring to early summer, nasturtium requires regular and abundant watering. And depending on rainfall, you will need to moisten the soil under the vine 1-2 times a week.

During the formation of buds and flowering, the plant needs to be watered less frequently, and only after the top layer of soil has dried. During this period, excessive moisture will lead to rotting of the roots. It is better to water the plant with water slightly warmed in the sun. Otherwise, the roots of the vine may get sick from cold moisture.

1-2 hours after watering or rainfall, you should loosen the soil near the nasturtium. But this must be done carefully, since the roots of the culture are superficial. During this procedure it is also necessary to remove weeds. They not only draw nutrients from the soil, but also carry dangerous diseases.

Caring for indoor nasturtium

Indoor nasturtium pleases with abundant flowering much longer than garden nasturtium. At home, it can be grown as a perennial. But for healthy development, she needs to be provided with decent living conditions.

Content

To ensure that the plant does not experience discomfort, you need to ensure:

• air temperature +20...+25o C (for the winter, transfer to a cool room with a temperature of +13...+15o C);
• abundant lighting - best placed on a windowsill on the south or west side;
• normal air humidity (if the room becomes too dry, the plant can be sprayed with a spray bottle).

Closer to spring, the stems stretch out and turn pale. Before returning the pot to a sunny windowsill, the stems need to be trimmed thoroughly.

Care

Caring for indoor nasturtium at home is almost no different from caring for a flower in the ground. The plant requires:

1. Watering. Abundant moisture during the process of active growth of shoots and development of buds; in winter, water is needed much less often. Water with settled tap water; to soften, you can add 1 tsp. soda per 2 liters of liquid.
2. Feeding. Every 2 weeks, feed with the composition for flowering plants.
3. Trimming. As the flowers dry, remove them; it is also necessary to trim the shoots so that the nasturtium does not bush too much.

Step-by-step instructions for growing

Climbing nasturtium is easily grown from seeds, which can be planted directly into the flower bed. You need to start the activity at the end of May, when the risk of night frosts disappears. But first you need to prepare planting material. To do this, the seeds need to be filled with warm water (30-40 °C) for 24 hours.

During the sowing process you will need to follow these instructions:

1. You should prepare the area and dig it to a depth of 30-40 cm.
2. Having leveled the surface of the soil, it is necessary to make holes in it with a depth of 1.5-2 cm. If several specimens of the crop are planted, then a distance of 25-30 cm must be maintained between them.
3. You need to place seeds in the holes, 2-4 pieces each. in each. The material will need to be sprinkled with soil.
4. The planting should be watered.

The vine sprouts will appear within 10-15 days after sowing. But such seedlings will bloom only after 1-1.5 months. And to get earlier flowering, you should grow the vine using seedlings.

Growing seedlings

You need to start this event in the last ten days of April. The liana does not tolerate picking, and it is better to plant its seeds in peat cups.

In the process, you should adhere to the following algorithm:

1. The containers should be filled with a mixture of peat and sand. To prevent future seedlings from dying from microbes and pests, the substrate must be spilled with a solution of fungicides.
2. The soil surface needs to be leveled and holes made in it with a depth of 2 cm.
3. It is necessary to plant plant seeds (2-3 pieces) in each container and sprinkle them with substrate.
4. The planting should be sprinkled with warm water from a spray bottle and placed in a place with diffused but bright lighting.

In order for the seeds to germinate, you need to maintain the temperature around them within +20...+22 °C. You should also regularly moisten the soil to prevent it from drying out.

It is necessary to plant grown seedlings in a flowerbed in early June. In the process, you just need to place peat cups in recesses of a suitable size and sprinkle them with soil.

An interval of 30-40 cm should be maintained between vines. Then the soil should be well watered, and then its surface should be mulched with rotted straw, sawdust or peat.

Simple and double cultivated nasturtium (T. cultorum)

Based on nasturtium major and thyroid, today many original hybrids have been bred, united under the common name Tropaeolum cultorum. Plants with a height of 40 cm to 3 m are grown as annuals in Russia. The shield-shaped leaves of this species can have not only the usual green color, but also a deep purple hue. Flowers in the range characteristic of nasturtiums come from the axils of the leaves, have a diameter of up to 5 cm, and can be either simple or double.

Mass flowering of both tiny forms no higher than 30 cm and huge climbing nasturtiums occurs from June to late autumn. During this time, the seeds ripen well and can be used for sowing next spring.

Plant propagation methods, instructions

Climbing nasturtium, photos of which are presented in the article, propagates using cuttings. This method takes a lot of time, and should only be used if you want to get a new, terry type of vine. But for this event you can only use those specimens that are grown in pots and not in the garden.

Reproduction should begin in April, and during the process you must adhere to the following instructions:

1. First you need to prepare a planting container with drainage holes. You also need to stock up on sand. It needs to be washed, dried, and then heated in a frying pan for 10-15 minutes. Once the sand has cooled, they need to fill the planting container.
2. Having chosen strong, healthy shoots, you should cut them with a sharp and disinfected knife.
3. The cuttings need to be planted in moistened sand, deepening them by 2-3 cm.

In order for plants to take root, it is important to keep the substrate moist. Therefore, it must be regularly sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. Plants can be planted in a flowerbed in the last ten days of May, when the risk of return frosts has disappeared.

Why does the plant dry out and turn yellow?

Over time, the lower leaves of the vine turn yellow and die. And this happens for natural reasons. But if the leaves from the top of the crop dry out, this can be caused by a lack of nutrients in the soil.

And to correct the situation, it is enough to feed the vine with complex mineral fertilizer.

Choosing a place and soil for planting

For planting nasturtiums, choose sunny and wind-protected areas. Foreign nasturtium can be planted in partial shade. In shady corners, flowering will be weak and the shoots will be long and thin.

The soil should be moderately fertile without excess nitrogen fertilizers. Nasturtium will grow best in loamy or sandy loam soils. If there is an excess of mineral fertilizers in the soil, nasturtium will produce more green leaves than flowers.

Before planting, do not forget about drainage. The soil should allow water and air to pass through well; the plant does not like stagnant moisture.

Pest and disease control

Nasturtium is a plant with strong immunity, but in unfavorable conditions it can be affected by the following diseases:

Of the pests, the vine is attacked by the following insects:

• Aphid. Pests feed on the sap of stems and leaves and damage flower stalks. If the colony of insects is small, then it is enough to dust the vine with wood ash. In case of severe damage, you will need to spray the crop with a solution of Decis or Confidor.
• Cabbage moth. A small butterfly whose caterpillars damage the leaves and buds of the plant. You can kill insects using garlic or onion infusion. Dusting the vine with wood ash also helps. Among insecticides, the preparations “Decis Expert” and “Confidor” effectively destroy parasites.
• Medvedka. A large insect that eats both the above-ground part of the vine and its roots. To destroy the pest, you will need to place poisonous baits near the plant.
• Spider mites. Small pests that can be recognized by the sticky web covering the axils of the leaves and stems of the plant. To destroy parasites, the vine should be treated with the preparations “Kleschevit”, “Fitoverm”, “Fufanon”.

Fertilizers for plants

Nasturtium actively develops and blooms luxuriantly with regular feeding. But it is advisable to apply preparations to the soil of the flowerbed no more than 2-3 times a month, and only during the active growing season. And when the vine begins to form buds and bloom, fertilizing should be completely canceled.

Mineral mixtures

During the growth of green mass, nasturtium should be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, with a minimum nitrogen content. Suitable potassium monophosphate, preparations "Agricol", "Atlante", AVA, "Fertika".

Fertilizers should be applied only after heavy watering, in the early morning or late evening. Otherwise, the drugs will cause a burn at the roots of the plant.

Organic fertilizers

It is not advisable to use organic matter, especially fresh manure, to feed nasturtium. Such fertilizers lead to rotting of the roots. But you can mulch the surface of the flowerbed with compost.

Such a layer will feed the plant with useful substances, and at the same time prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture and compaction of the soil. So you will need to water and loosen the soil less often.

Possible difficulties in growing

Climbing nasturtium (photos in the garden are shown to clearly demonstrate the attractiveness of the culture) is a non-capricious plant. And problems with it can only arise in case of irregular watering.

Moreover, the vine does not tolerate both excessive moisture and prolonged drought. And in these cases, it begins to shed its leaves. Sometimes the vine refuses to bloom.

And this can be caused by several reasons:

• Excess nitrogen in the soil. The plant needs to be fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, since nitrogen provokes the growth of green mass, and not the formation of buds.
• Dense landing. When planting several vines, you need to maintain an interval of 35-40 cm between them. Otherwise, the plants will waste energy on competition.
• Lack of light. For the formation of nasturtium buds, a sufficient amount of sunlight is necessary. So it is worth planting the crop in illuminated areas.

Useful properties of nasturtium

In addition to its attractive appearance, nasturtium has a number of healing properties. The content of useful microelements in its various parts has led to the fairly wide use of the plant in traditional and folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking.

Nasturtium contains:

• vitamins (A, C, PP);
• trace elements (iron, iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus);
• antioxidants (Omega-3, Omega-9);
• antiseptic substances;
• alkaloids;
• anthocyanins;
• glycosides;
• tannins;
• carotene;
• acids (linoleic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, folic);
• tocopherol;
• tropeolin and other substances.

The presence of useful substances promotes the use of decoctions and infusions from capuchins for the following purposes:

• removing excess cholesterol from the body;
• providing a mild analgesic effect;
• laxative action;
• treatment of various skin and oral diseases;
• lowering blood pressure;
• normalization of the condition in cardiovascular diseases;
• increasing hemoglobin content in the blood;
• softening of formations in urolithiasis;
• treatment of diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system;
• improvement in problems with the digestive system.

However, there are certain contraindications for the use of nasturtium:

• period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• children's age (up to 7 years);
• arterial hypotension;
• problems with stool with a predominant laxative effect.

To enhance growth and improve the general condition of hair, nasturtium infusions and decoctions, including alcoholic ones, are used.

In order for the plant to retain the maximum amount of useful substances, it should be properly collected, dried and stored. For medical purposes, it is harvested during the formation of the first buds. Dried raw materials are stored in a dry and cool place in bags made of breathable materials for 1-2 years.

Nasturtium also continues to be used in cooking today. It is pickled and added to fresh salads. When dried, the crushed seeds are used as a seasoning for hot dishes, and the flowers are used to flavor tea.

Use in landscape design, examples

Climbing nasturtium is often planted along fences. The culture grows quickly and in a short time covers their surface, becoming a kind of hedge. Such a fence looks especially impressive if, when planting, you alternate varieties of vines with different shades of buds.

An example of the use of climbing nasturtium on the site.

The vine can also be used for landscaping gazebos and any vertical supports. And behind its dense thickets you can easily hide unsightly buildings. Climbing nasturtiums are also planted in hanging pots. You can decorate a veranda or balcony with such compositions.

Where to buy and cost of the plant

Nasturtium seeds can be purchased in flower shops, special departments of supermarkets, and online resources. But before purchasing planting material, you must always check its expiration date. And it is worth considering that vine seeds lose their viability 4-5 years after collection.

The cost of planting material is low. And on average, you will have to pay 25-50 rubles for a package of plant seeds.

An attractive climbing nasturtium will be an excellent choice if you need to quickly create a hedge on your garden plot or hide an unsightly place in the garden behind dense, flowering thickets. This vine looks very impressive, which is confirmed by numerous photos, and at the same time does not require much attention.

Types and varieties

There are about 90 different varieties of indoor nasturtium. Below are the most popular among them.

Large nasturtium

Large nasturtium is a large, tall plant, most often climbing. Flowers are red, orange, yellow, cream, cherry. Always large and bright. This plant perfectly hides excess sunlight, creating pleasant partial shade.

Small nasturtium

This is a delicate and beautiful plant. The flowers are distinguished by yellow, cream or pink delicate colors. The plant rarely rises high, but does not require support. Ideally combined with other plants - geraniums, sage and rosemary.

Nasturtium canary

It is distinguished by the bright yellow color of the flowers and their unusual shape. Growing Canarian nasturtium is easy in much the same way as other plant varieties. This flower definitely needs support - the Canary nasturtium climbs.

Nasturtium shieldbearing

This is an annual plant - it lives only one season, and is distinguished by very beautiful delicate cream or blue large flowers. High temperature is especially important for this variety.