🧡 When to Plant Nasturtiums

🌸 Flower
Warm Season

Edible flowers and leaves; trap crop for aphids. Great companion plant

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 May 2 May 30 Jun 6
Zone 3B May 15 Apr 17 May 15 May 22
Zone 4A May 8 Apr 10 May 8 May 15
Zone 4B May 1 Apr 3 May 1 May 8
Zone 5A Apr 25 Mar 28 Apr 25 May 2
Zone 5B Apr 18 Mar 21 Apr 18 Apr 25
Zone 6A Apr 21 Mar 24 Apr 21 Apr 28
Zone 6B Apr 10 Mar 13 Apr 10 Apr 17
Zone 7A Apr 5 Mar 8 Apr 5 Apr 12
Zone 7B Mar 28 Feb 28 Mar 28 Apr 4
Zone 8A Mar 20 Feb 20 Mar 20 Mar 27
Zone 8B Mar 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Mar 19
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 31 Feb 28 Mar 7
Zone 9B Feb 15 Jan 18 Feb 15 Feb 22
Zone 10A Feb 1 Jan 4 Feb 1 Feb 8
Zone 10B Jan 15 Dec 18 Jan 15 Jan 22
Zone 11A Jan 1 Dec 4 Jan 1 Jan 8

Nasturtiums are edible, pest-trapping flowers with peppery leaves and vibrant blooms.

Top Growing Tips

  • Direct sow after frost — they don’t transplant well
  • Use as trap crops for aphids — they attract pests away from vegetables
  • Flowers, leaves, and seeds are all edible (peppery, like watercress)
  • Too-rich soil produces lots of leaves but fewer flowers
  • Trailing varieties are beautiful in hanging baskets and window boxes

Companion Planting

Good companions: tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, beans — excellent trap crop

Avoid planting near: none — nasturtiums are beneficial companions

Harvest Timeline

Flowering begins 50-60 days from seed; use flowers and leaves fresh