Seed Grow Project: Spitfire Nasturtium from Renee's Garden

I am participating in a nationwide project with some fellow garden bloggers.  It is called the GROW project, sponsored by Renee's Garden.  All the bloggers involved received the same pack of seeds.  This time, it is Climbing Nasturtium, Spitfire.  Every month we will post an update on how we are doing with these seeds.  I think it is going to be so neat to see what so many people are doing with the same plants.  All of the blogs that are participating will be listed at the Grow Project website... http://grow.gardenbloggers.com/  Make sure to check it out!

In Iowa where I live, zone 4b and 5a (I'm right on the line) I can't put out my nasturtiums yet.  I also moved about a month ago, so I am getting my flower beds set up, so some of my pics will look kind of transitional for a while.  I wandered around my yard today, thinking about where I will put them when the frost is past.  I have grown nasturtiums before.  They are actually the first edible flower I ever grew (knowingly).  I love how the flowers are so bright and cheery, and it keeps on blooming all through the season.  Since this one is a climber, I have been considering some places it can go UP.  I will definitely put some on this cool garden gate, next to my cucumbers and green beans. 

 

Another spot I was considering is this cute white fence.  I have been waiting to see what comes up (perennial-wise) before I commit to these spots.  I already have two clematis planted along this fence, along with a helleborus and some sea lavender...but there is still a lot of room for the nasturtium to go up the fence. 

 

Now that I own my own home, I am going to attack a bunch of projects I have never been able to, or had the time to.  I have always wanted to make one of those tippy-pot things.  You know, where you have like 5 big clay pots tipped sideways on top of each other on a big pole or piece of rebar.  I think the spitfire would look fantastic spilling out of one of those pots. This is probably where I will put it, once I put it together.

 

I am also creating my herb garden bed.  This is it, so far.  I know it doesn't look like much so far, but eventually it will be filled with 10-20 different kinds of herbs.  Several clumps of nasturtium would make a colorful addition to this bed...or I could put some in my vegetable garden.  

 

I do love building tepees.  I built one today, just for the nasturtium to go one.  Right now, yarrow is trying to take hold in the bottom.  I removed a big clump in the center before I built the tepee.  I would eventually like to have parsley and cilantro, or lettuces growing in the bottom of this, with the nasturtium growing  up the sticks. 

I will be starting my nasturtium seeds this month.  They sprout quickly, so I will have many plants to set out in May, when the frost is safely gone by in Iowa.  I hope that you will be amazed by the changes in my garden, not only the growing of the spitfire, but how all the plants contribute to each other. I also look forward to eating the nasturtium....as they are not only beautiful but delicious.  

“I’m growing Nasturtium “Spitfire” for the GROW project, thanks to ReneesGarden.com for the seeds”.