Topic: Nasturtium take over bid

[betula]

The nasturtiums have grown like crazy ;D

click to enlarge.

[ceres]

Mine are rampant too this year.  Had to take the shears to them and hack them back off the paths on Friday.  May have to do more drastic surgery next week as they are swamping cukes, sweet potatoes, etc. etc. 

[pigeonseed]

You're lucky - they're beautiful when they do well, but mine aren't happy this year. weedy with little flowers - they're just glaring at me from behind a little stone wall.

[Flighty]

Betula I know what you mean!  ;D

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[lolabelle]

not tried but apparently both leaf and flower are edible  as salad and the seed can be preserved as a caper substitute,  ;D

[boldielocks]

Behind the flower head is a small soft spike, I've eaten these, they taste something like a pepper, not tried the leaf or the flower.

[Georgie]

I know what you mean, Betula.  I thought I'd planted ones which were 'mound forming' but no, ruddy trailing/climbing and I'm having a job to contain them too.  Still, lovely companion plants and the bees and butterflies are happy.   :)

G x

[flossy]

   Hi boldielocks,  love the flowers  - sweet at first then a peppery bite and they look

   fantastic strewn over a bowl of salad, leaves are a bit ' hotter ' but great mixed

   with your ' baby leafs ',     haven't tried pickleing the seeds - mock capers, or eating them
 
   straight off the plant, how do you preserve them ?   

   thanks.

   floss xxx

[pigeonseed]

I've pickled the seeds, just put them in a jar with some vinegar (probably not following health and safety!) - they're nice, not as complex a flavour as capers, not as sea-tasting. But good.

I've made watercess soup using nasturtium instead and it was quite tasty.

Trouble is they have very particular flavour, rather strong, so you don't need many leaves. Seems a shame when they produce so much!

[flossy]

  Thanks pideonseed,   will follow your ideas for preserving, will have a go !   :)

   Like the nasturtium soup suggestion, could go for that too,     

   floss xxx

[Squash64]

Three years ago I put a few near the compost heap and they covered it brilliantly.  Only problem is, the seeds got into the compost and I didn't notice them when I used it so now I have them coming up all over the place and I'm pulling them out like weeds.