🌱Doc's Pantry Garden Almanac

The Garden Almanac

Edible, peppery, and a decoy the aphids can't resist

🧺 Doc's Pantry·℞ Apothecary· 🌱 Garden·🎨 Artisan Hub
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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Edible, peppery, and a decoy the aphids can't resist

🔍 How to identify it

Round shield-shaped leaves with the stalk joining in the centre (peltate); spurred trumpet flowers in fire colours; trailing or mounding habit. Whole plant is peppery like watercress.

👀 Look-alikes

None dangerous — all above-ground parts are edible.

🤝 Companion planting

Plant near:
cucumbersquashbrassicasbean
FamilyTropaeolaceae
Hardiness zone2-11 (annual)
SunFull sun
WaterModerate; poor soil = more flowers
SoilLean! Rich soil gives leaves not blooms
Spacing25-30 cm
Sowing / startingDirect-sow the big seeds after last frost; nick or soak to speed germination
HarvestLeaves, flowers and green seed-pods (pickle like capers) all summer
Common pestsThe classic aphid TRAP crop — plant it to pull aphids and cabbage pests off your vegetables.

🧺 What it's good for

Peppery edible flowers and leaves; living pest decoy. Trails prettily over beds and pots.

Plant identification here is educational — never eat, forage, or medicate with a wild plant on the basis of a website alone. Many edible plants have toxic look-alikes. When in doubt, grow from known seed, or confirm with an expert before you harvest.