NASTURTIUM - what’s that smell!

As a kid I never liked the smell of this plant, I never knew you could eat it either! It was one of these plants that just grew in an area of the garden that was kind of neglected and forgotten but it did look cheerful.

Not a lot has changed - is is still a neglected plant in my garden but definitely not forgotten! Luckily it tends to sort itself out. Here in Picton it does get hammered by the frost but just now it has had a new lease of spring growth and I am finding little ones pop us in other areas of the garden. The common garden nasturtium is an herbaceous perennial, with a trailing habit up to 1 or 2 meters. It is more often treated as an annual due to local conditions if frosting occurs.

These plants were apparently native to Peru. And I must of known something as a kid - because the plant secrets an essence into the soil  which is absorbed by other plants to help them resist attack by pests and disease. Hence they make good companion plants to citrus trees (plant them as a living mulch under them) or next to potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, cucumbers and pumpkins as a trap crop. They still smell funny to me but luckily my adult palette has taken over.

Nasturtium Aphid Spray - Nasturtium leaves infused in boiling water, cooled, strained with a little liquid soap added can be used as a spray for aphids on vegetables and other plants.

Medicinally - research has shown the plant has a natural antibiotic and antifungal action and if eaten on a regular basis it will help your resistance to viruses and colds. It’s high in Vitamin C and many other trace elements and acts as a great tonic for your system.

Culinary - The whole plant can be eaten. Leaves and seeds have a pungent peppery taste, the flowers being milder. The easiest way to incorporate them into your diet is by adding them to your salads or like me just graze on them when in the garden! You can research this further as pickled nasturtium buds are a good alternative to capers and there are a lot of other recipe ideas for the leaves and flowers, like pestos, breads, scones and jellies.

I am still trying to figure if it can work in a soap - my guess probably not as there is still a little bit of that kid in me that gets the odd whiff and it takes me back in time to the garden with the plant trailing over the mound of lawn clipping in the back corner of the section…