Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade

Watermoderate

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium

Nectarabundant

Pollenabundant

Tomato

Can help deter whiteflies from tomatoes.

Cabbage

Acts as a trap crop for aphids and cabbage worms, diverting them from brassicas.

Butternut squash

Nasturtiums can act as a trap crop for aphids and squash bugs, diverting them from squash.

Emergence

Seeds germinate after the last spring frost when soil temperatures are consistently above 100C.

Flowering

Flowering typically begins about 45 days after emergence and continues for several months.

Fruiting

Fruits (seed pods) develop shortly after flowering and mature over several weeks.

Senescence

Plants are typically killed by the first autumn frost, leading to senescence.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Drainagewell-drained

Nitrogen fixingNo

MycorrhizalNo

Soil textureloam, sandy_loam

Organic matterMedium

Compaction toleranceLow

Methodsseed

Difficulty1 / 5

Establishes in~1 yr

Self-seedingModerate

Attractspollinators, beneficial insects

Can host pestsaphids, cabbage worms, whiteflies