Nasturtium

Tags

bladder, bronchitis, colds, companion plant, coughs, flower, flu, Herb, kidney, nasturtium, nasturtiums, salad, showy flowers, sore throat

Nasturtium Tropaeolum maju

Nasturtiums are a wonderfully colorful and useful  annual addition to any garden and they are easy to grow. It has a pleasant peppery taste and has become a favourite world over. The showy flowers come in shades of fiery red, oranges and yellows. The flowers can be single or double.

Sow the seeds in Spring in a sunny spot. It does best in sandy soils, but any well drained soil will do. Interestingly, the poorer the soil, the more flowers the plant will produce.  Once they are established they will reseed themselves year after year.

Nasturtiums are wonderful companion plants. Plant them near roses, cucumbers, cabbage and other plants.

All parts of the plant are used. Eat a leaf at the first sign of a sore throat, another an hour later and a third leaf an house later. Nasturtiums have a high vitamin C content, as well as being a natural antibiotic. It is also used to treat bladder and kidney ailments,coughs, colds, flu, sore throats and bronchitis.

The flower has most often been consumed, making for an especially ornamental salad ingredient.

Spring in Ariston!

Tags

Agathosma, Agathosma Crenulata, allotment gardens, Apricot, Buchu, Flowers, food, garden, gardening, home grown, nasturtium, organic, plants

Walking through Ariston this last week after the huge Winter rains was a real treat.

The “Gat” which is our storage of water for the Summer is almost full.

Rainfall figures

The poppy seedlings are taking over Matt’s new allotment.

The Worm garden is really establishing and all the plants are growing well.

The potatoes which we have been growing in tyres have sadly been eaten, but on the bright side the beetroot is growing strongly.

The ZTL garden is also establishing well.

 

Cara and Esther’s bulbs are a pretty as a picture.

The mustard is also starting to flower.

 

A new Buchu is waiting to be planted (Agathosma Crenulata)

 

 

The Lobostemon is making a pretty display.

The Apricot tree which was donated by Julia is full of blossom.

 

The Pink Marguerite s are cheery

 

The Nasturtium in the Healing garden has flowers too.

 

The Lupins are budding

 

Zayaan’s garden is looking really interesting.

RELATED ARTICLES : 

The wonderful Pyjama Bush – Lobostemon fruticosus…the magical 8 day healing bush

The August workshop – Three gardens in one

The April Elemental Organic – vegetable growing course

May Elemental Organic growing workshop – The Winter Garden

July workshop garden – ZTL garden (Zero to landfill)

 

May Elemental Organic growing workshop – The Winter Garden

Tags

Beetroot, Bright light Spinach, coke bottles, companion plants, course participants, food gardening, home grown, nasturtium, potatoes, tires, worm

 

Meet Dominique and Nuri the participants on last Saturday’s workshop.

We covered subject from a huge spectrum of gardening advice and teachings.

Both ladies were very enthusiastic and eager for more knowledge.

 

When we finally got down to creating the veggie garden, we opted to plant a “Winter Garden”.

The pot was divided into 4 and four tires were placed in each quarter. The soil was enriched with compost, 4 x  2l coke bottles were planted for watering. (The bottles will have pipe added to the top when the next tires are added) Sprouting potatoes were chosen and 4 planted in each tire. In the remaining space the ground was prepared and beetroot and Spinach Bright lights were sown. On the 4 corners, Nasturtium seedlings were transplanted to four companion plants.

We even had Tim from last month’s course arrive to check on the  Worm garden.

To avoid disappointment, as space is limited, book now for the next course which will be held 8th June.

email : aristonorganic@gmail.com