EN
Open Studio
GridGarden Studio
Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Herb · Tropaeolaceae family

Garden nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus

Full sun to part shade 11¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in × 11¾ in–2 ft 11⅜ in Flowers June–October Harvest June–August Low maintenance
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
Size11¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in
spacing 11¾ in
FlowersJune–October
PruningJune–October
Care levelLow maintenance

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averageloamysandy

Watering

Garden nasturtium — Watering
drought tolerant once establishedless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

3 ft 3⅜ in6 ft 6¾ in9 ft 10⅛ in11¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ inspread 11¾ in–2 ft 11⅜ in
11¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in× spread 11¾ in–2 ft 11⅜ in

Plant 11¾ in apart.

How to plant: in rows, 11¾ in in the row, 11¾ in between rows

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberSowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberPruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersSowingPruningHarvest
Now, in October: time to prune (deadhead spent flowers). · watch for cabbage caterpillars (cabbage white butterflies, cabbage moth, diamond-back moth).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June–October · orange, yellow, red, pink or white

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: April–May

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

deadhead spent flowers (June–October)

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June–August

Feeding

Nutrition.

No feeding

Pruning

When and how to prune.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons).

Garden nasturtium — Deadhead spent flowers

Deadhead spent flowers

JunJulAugSepOct
How to prunePrune lightly: spent flowers.

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

Glasshouse whitefly

Glasshouse whitefly

Trialeurodes vaporariorum
pest
More about this problem

What you will see

Tiny white winged insects, sticky honeydew and sooty mold.

When to look

Outdoors mainly in warm summers, under glass throughout the growing season

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check/isolate new plants; remove unneeded host plants; ventilate well.
  2. By handCheck regularly and remove affected parts.
Glasshouse whiteflypest · outdoors mainly in warm summers, under glass throughout the growing season

What you will see

Tiny white winged insects, sticky honeydew and sooty mold.

When to look

Outdoors mainly in warm summers, under glass throughout the growing season

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check/isolate new plants; remove unneeded host plants; ventilate well.
  2. By handCheck regularly and remove affected parts.
More about this problem

What you will see

Fine pale speckling of leaves, tiny mites and fine webbing on the undersides; leaf drop in severe attacks.

When to look

Outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter.
  2. By handRegularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.
  3. BiologicalPredatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
Two-spotted spider mitepest · outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

What you will see

Fine pale speckling of leaves, tiny mites and fine webbing on the undersides; leaf drop in severe attacks.

When to look

Outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter.
  2. By handRegularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.
  3. BiologicalPredatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
More about this problem
Cabbage caterpillars (cabbage white butterflies, cabbage moth, diamond-back moth)pest · May–October

What you will see

Holes in leaves and caterpillars on the leaves.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
May–October

How to protect

  1. By handPick off eggs and caterpillars; cover with fine mesh that does not touch the leaves.
  2. BiologicalBiological control of caterpillars is available; they are naturally parasitised by the wasp Cotesia glomerata.
More about this problem
Sources (4)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does garden nasturtium flower?

In June–October; the flowers are orange, yellow, red, pink or white.

When do I sow garden nasturtium?

In April–May (direct sowing).

When is garden nasturtium harvested?

In June–August.

Does garden nasturtium tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does garden nasturtium need?

At maturity 11¾ in–2 ft 11⅜ in wide and 11¾ in–9 ft 10⅛ in tall; recommended spacing 11¾ in.

Glasshouse whitefly — what can you do?

Check/isolate new plants; remove unneeded host plants; ventilate well. Check regularly and remove affected parts.

Two-spotted spider mite — what can you do?

Avoid hot, dry and overcrowded spaces; remove weeds and plant debris for winter. Regularly misting plants with water reduces the risk but is not enough on its own; remove heavily affected plants.

Sources (9) Checked 22 October 2026

Similar plants

Have a look at these too.

bay laurel

Laurus nobilis

7 ft 10½ in–9 ft 10⅛ in × 4 ft 11 in–9 ft 10⅛ in
Moderate careherb

fennel

Foeniculum vulgare

3 ft 3⅜ in–6 ft 6¾ in × 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
Low maintenanceherb

lovage

Levisticum officinale

2 ft 11⅜ in–5 ft 10⅞ in × 1 ft 11⅝ in–3 ft 3⅜ in
Demandingherb

dill

Anethum graveolens

1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 in × 11¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
Low maintenanceherb
Design a bed with this plant in Studio