By Laurie Zitterkopf, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
April 8 - Special Garden Project 2024, Princess of India Nasturtium, brought to you by Nebraska Extension and 4-H. A vegetable, herb, and flower. After the average last frost, plant the seeds in rows, placing about 1 seed every 5 inches. Cover lightly with 1/2-1 inch of soil. Darkness is required for germination. Keep the soil moist. The final spacing should be 8-12 inches between plants in rows. The spacing between the seedlings allows the plants to receive enough sunlight for healthy growth.
April 9 - Special Garden Project 2024, Princess of India Nasturtium, is brought to you by Nebraska Extension and 4-H. Nasturtiums are a vegetable, herb, and flower, so enjoy them many ways and bring them to the fair. It is one plant, but there are many ways to display it. Seeds are displayed like peas, flowers, and herbs, leaves, and stems like lettuce, and containers plan as just one plant or plant with other plants. A possible sea of red for the fair.
April 10 - If you don’t have room to plant in a traditional garden setting, nasturtium can be grown in containers. Plant seeds in a 10-inch container or one of similar size, thin to 3-5 plants per 10-inch container. Garden soil is not recommended for containers. A good potting mix will work well for growing plants in containers. Special Garden Project 2024, Princess of India Nasturtium, brought to you by Nebraska Extension and 4-H. A vegetable, herb, and flower. Display your container-grown nasturtiums at the fair.
April 11 - Historically, nasturtiums are considered vegetables. Special Garden Project 2024, Princess of India Nasturtium. The leaves and flowers contain high amounts of mustard oils, which give them a pungent, peppery flavor and are released when the plant is crushed or chewed. Seeds have the strongest flavor. They can be eaten raw, although they are most often pickled, like capers. Use the young pods that are still green and soft. Display at the fair like you would peas.
April 12 - Special Garden Project 2024, Princess of India Nasturtium, brought to you by Nebraska Extension and 4-H. Nasturtium: what’s edible? Seeds can be eaten raw or pickled. Flowers are used to dye vinegar and other infusions, garnish drinks, salads, soups, pasta, and desserts, and make some stuffed flowers. Stems, a similar texture to chives, are used in salads and more. Leaves, both big and small, use as you would lettuce. All parts taste very similar and have a peppery “bite” that resembles a radish.
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.