Flowers that attract pollinators to the yard and help as companion plants by warding away pests are always valuable additions to any yard. While looking for such flowering plants that thrive in Zone 9 of the US plant hardiness map, Nasturtiums featured as a favorite among gardeners. I got a packet of seeds and sowed them directly in the flower bed in mid-March. Winter had been mild this year and the likelihood of frost was very low.
Soon, tiny plants emerged. Their distinctive leaves are edible, making a great addition to salads.
For a few days, we had a lot of rain and the temperatures remained in the sixties. The plants kept growing but they didn't look like they liked the weather. I read that they like it hot and I hoped they would survive until it warmed up, which would be soon.
The temperature did climb into the upper seventies in two weeks, and I was greeted by this first flower one morning when I was checking on the day lilies. It was a pleasant surprise. It is a lot of joy when you have raised a plant from seed.
Soon this yellow beauty joined the previous one.
Some more flowers and some Thai basil flowers nearby.
More hues of oranges and yellows appeared in the next few days.
The flower has an interesting looking bract at the back.
Soon, tiny plants emerged. Their distinctive leaves are edible, making a great addition to salads.
For a few days, we had a lot of rain and the temperatures remained in the sixties. The plants kept growing but they didn't look like they liked the weather. I read that they like it hot and I hoped they would survive until it warmed up, which would be soon.
The temperature did climb into the upper seventies in two weeks, and I was greeted by this first flower one morning when I was checking on the day lilies. It was a pleasant surprise. It is a lot of joy when you have raised a plant from seed.
Soon this yellow beauty joined the previous one.
Some more flowers and some Thai basil flowers nearby.
More hues of oranges and yellows appeared in the next few days.
The flower has an interesting looking bract at the back.
That part of the flower bed looks like this. I am so glad this Nasturtium growing trial can be added to my success stories for this spring.
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