Nasturtians

[Good Gourd 2]

What are the feelings about people that grow nasturtians on their plots.  I have them all along one fence mingled in with my  squash, it really does create an effect yellow orange and reds.  The problem seems to be that they have caterpillars on them and I have been advised to get rid of the nasturtians.  My theory is that if they are on them then they are not on my beans etc.  I know this is not foolproof but I`m trying !!!!   :o

[Good Gourd 2]

[manicscousers]

I wouldn't get rid of them, we grow them to keep the caterpillars off our other crops  ;D

[Good Gourd 2]

Thank you manicscousers, I thought so, if I did pull them up then they would have to go onto my weed heap, and when the plants wilted the little devils would be all over the place.  Perhaps the person that complained was just jelous.I like to think so.   :D

[Tyke]

They are widely used as a companion plant with vegetables as they attract blackfly - keeping them off other plants. Never heard of problems with them attracting caterpillars. You can also eat the leaves.

Asking you not to grow them is a bit wierd. The best way to keep bugs off would be to concrete over the plot and soak it in napalm, but you wouldn't do that either. I understand that brassica's attract catapillars too - maybe you should ban them??

[Theplotthickens]

Pickled nasturtium buds are very much like capers, so very good with fish.....go on try it, you`ll be surprised, and very pleasantly too !!

[cacran]

Yes, everytime I have grown Nastertians I have had, first the blackfly, then catipillars. I have lots of it growing in my allotment at the moment. I cannot believe that it attracts these pests off other crops as when I grow it at home, they have black fly and catipillars. I grow no veg at home, and when I grow no nasturtians, non of my plants are infested. I think it could be that Nasturtians just attrat these insects. They do look good though. You can eat the leaves and petals as well as making seeds int capers. I never fancy using any of it to eat afgter the little blighters have been all over it though!!! :)

[froglets]

Hi Orelse,  ditto growing nasturtiums to attract catterpillers & blackfly away from the veg.  And they attract bees in to pollinate bean flowers.

[saddad]

I have some at the side of my top plot... and very attractive they look too!  ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

So which is it?  One of you said pickled buds are like capers and another said the seeds are like capers.
I'm confused but would like to try pickling the right part. we have some in a pot in the veg. garden that hasn't been attacked by anything... yet though the tent caterpillars are just arriving.

[Ishard]

Its the seeds Grannie :)

http://www.plantea.com/nasturtium.htm

Even the roots are edible with nasturtiums :)

I grow loads of nasturtiums, several different varieties, they are for attracting cabbage whites to lay eggs on rather than laying eggs on my brassica, for black fly as some are planted amongst the b beans and those not too infested I harvest flowers and leaves for salads and seeds for poor mans capers.  ;D

[Borlotti]

Can you please come to my allotment and tell the cabbage white and black fly to go on the nasturtians and not my broad beans or brassicas as they don't seem  to like the nasturtians.  That is a funny spelling, (nasturtians) sounds like martians, aliens.  I have never eaten the seeds, also never eaten the yellow flowers from courgettes but am told they are a delicacy.  What good is a dictionary if you can't spell, get it wrong at the start and you are lost.  I had better go and look up nasturtians (sound like curtains now) in my gardening dictionary.  I didn't do Latin at school so perhaps a lot of plant names are difficult.  How about Phacelia Tanacetefolia (a weed supression).  I think folia is leaf (leaves).  I was told that bad spelling was a form of great intelligence (but I could say that tongue in cheek).

[Good Gourd 2]

Sorry, Borlotti, for my incorrect spelling, the spell checker did not know.  At the time I was more intent on getting some answers to my problem ( thought I may have to rip up half the plot) Really sorry if it offended you, will try harder next time. ???

[Borlotti]

I can't spell it myself.  Read my reply, seems a strange word.  Also read my text about spelling.  No offence was meant, I just feel the correct spelling, if it is correct looks odd.  Your spelling is probably better, more photenic (or whatever). All plant names are difficult to spell, don't take offence, I am the worst spelling in the world.  See my message, bad spelling is a sign of a highly active brain or great intelligence.

[Tyke]

I went down on to my plot last week, wondering what the problem with caterpillars was. I was shocked to find hundreds of the little fellows on the nasturtiums - the only other plant that they had touched was the horseradish....

They hadn't touched the peas, broad beans or runner beans that were about 5cm away...

[Amazin]

Yup, it's the fact that the pests enjoy the Nasturtiums more than the other crops, so they're likely to be attracted to the gourmet meal before the everyday stuff - food snobs!

I inherited nasturtiums on the plot and have kept them (well, they've kept themselves really). But I've more or less given up on growing them as an ornamental in the garden as they get massacred by all sorts of little chompers.

[star]

Int Nasturtiums brilliant!!! Caterpillars are all over mine too, and only a few on the kale. I love them :D

[grawrc]

And the flowers are so pretty in a summer salad or tasty just munched on the plot.

[Julia]

I've got nasty urchins too.  Lots of caterpillars, but that doesn't seem to upset them.  They are very vigorous.