Empress of India Nasturtium seed packet
- botanical name: Tropaeolum majus
- annual
- height 16-20″
- spacing 8-12″ apart
- full sun tolerant, partial shade
- poor-average soil
- flower color red
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers, cut foliage, as an edging, mass plant
- use in salads, on sandwiches
- attracts hummingbirds
Empress of India Nasturtium is an old fashioned favorite. The five petaled, funnel shaped, deep scarlet-red blooms and its dark green foliage really stand out and mix beautifully in combination plantings. Empress of India is less leggy, more compact and mounding than other Nasturtiums. It makes a perfect container or edging plant. The flowers and leaves are edible! Use them to jazz up an ordinary green salad. Like its relative watercress, Nasturtiums have radishy-flavored leaves. Great for children’s gardens!
Easy to care for. Plant Empress of India in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, but not especially rich soil. High nitrogen levels will promote more foliage rather than flower production. Does best where summers are cool. Nasturtiums have average watering needs; don’t over water. They will, however, tolerate poor, dry soil.
Empress of India Nasturtium plants are also available. Purchase them here.
Sowing Instructions:
Recommended planting method: outdoors – sow seeds two weeks before the last frost, 1/2 inches deep, 6 inches apart. Cover seeds with soil as they require darkness to germinate. Germination 7-14 days. Thin seedlings after they have their first true leaves, spacing plants 8-12 inches apart. Days to bloom 55-65.
Harvest when flowers are fully open. You can harvest the leaves at any time. Collect seed head/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry. Or allow seed heads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds.
