plants for kids - Nasturtiums

**Blackhorse** · 16-04-2009, 12:55 PM

Hi,

I love my garden and planting and have recently gone completely mad on ordering seeds for flowers and herbs...I think I could cover a football pitch in flowers and herbs by now...oh and lavender..:-)
anyhow....
one of them I thought I put on here as it seems to be an ideal flowering plant for gardens where kids are around as the whole plant is edible (plus gorgeous to look at)

Nasturtiums!!
here is a pic:
http://edibletulip.typepad.com/edibl...asturtiums.JPG

**FussyElmo** · 16-04-2009, 01:10 PM

Lovely may have to invest my ds likes to eat leaves

Are they easy to look after Im not the best gardener in the world ok Im probably the worse so really need the ones you can plant and forget about

**Blackhorse** · 16-04-2009, 01:19 PM

I don't think they are hard to grow actually

I found a link with some info on it:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds...gwc1794/1.html

and fun facts for kids
http://www.kidsregen.org/howTo.php?section=celeb&ID=6

**Heaven Scent** · 16-04-2009, 01:45 PM

They are really easy to grow and are lovely in hanging baskets B-U-T they do attract sworms of black fly - so be ready with you spray bottles of washing up liquid and water or if that doesn't work it will have to be harsher methods.

**Pedagog** · 16-04-2009, 01:46 PM

They are very easy to grow, take a while to get going, but then go mad. The only thing I will say is they attract caterpillars (especially the nasty hairy ones).

**jibberjitz** · 16-04-2009, 01:50 PM

They look lovely although they do spread quickly so you have to keep them under control but look fab

**huggableshelly** · 16-04-2009, 03:00 PM

wicked!

encouraging children to eat black flies cattterpilars and fresh growing plants too!

the story of there was an old woman who swallowed a fly jumps into my mind lol

**Princess Sara** · 16-04-2009, 04:00 PM

VERY easy to grow, and boy do they grow and take over everything, I recomend keeping them in pots! They attract loads of catapillars that eventually eat your entire garden... great fun.

**sweets** · 16-04-2009, 04:34 PM

Hi i planted some last year and they have even survived the winter and are coming up again! they seem to be everywhere so watch for them spreading! lol

**angeldelight** · 16-04-2009, 05:57 PM

They look lovely thanks for the ideas

Angel xx

**Pedagog** · 16-04-2009, 10:12 PM

Just watch out for the hairy caterpillars if you get them as they are really nasty, If we get them I just feed them to the ducks.

**jibberjitz** · 17-04-2009, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Blackhorse

Hi,

I love my garden and planting and have recently gone completely mad on ordering seeds for flowers and herbs...I think I could cover a football pitch in flowers and herbs by now...oh and lavender..:-)
anyhow....
one of them I thought I put on here as it seems to be an ideal flowering plant for gardens where kids are around as the whole plant is edible (plus gorgeous to look at)

Nasturtiums!!
here is a pic:
http://edibletulip.typepad.com/edibl...asturtiums.JPG

Just out of interest, where did you get your seeds from as I haven't been able to find any

**Pedagog** · 17-04-2009, 08:47 AM

Wilkinsons, Netto sell them.

**gegele** · 17-04-2009, 09:22 AM

was going to plant some in a pot so the black flies wouldn't go near my vegetables!!!!

**rickysmiths** · 17-04-2009, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Pedagog

They are very easy to grow, take a while to get going, but then go mad. The only thing I will say is they attract caterpillars (especially the nasty hairy ones).

I was just going to post saying the same thing! When we moved here five years ago we planted some in a planter in the front garden, they looked beautiful, for about three days!!! Overnight they were eaten by the caterpillars

I have gone mad with seeds and stuff this year. I was hoping for better weather this week so we could plant some of them. Its looking better for the weekend so I will start off and let the children plant next week.

I've got lettuce, tomatoes for hanging baskets, carrots, spring onions and some flowers including small and giant sunflowers. I have also bought one of the seed mats that is pre- planted with flowers seeds, we have to cover it with compost and water it to produce a whole flowerbed of flowers!! Anyone else used one?

**mummyroysof3** · 17-04-2009, 11:51 AM

the seed mat sounds good, where did you get it from?

charlotte x

**Pedagog** · 17-04-2009, 03:54 PM

I have used Seed tape, similar product, have to say not very impressed with the results.

**Allie** · 17-04-2009, 04:01 PM

We grew loads of peas last summer with the intention of adding them to our teas, all of them were eaten and enjoyed fresh from the pod in the garden!!

One veg hater said "they are better than sweets!" the children are ready to plant them again this year

Allie