Single Malt Nasturtiums

My guy drinks scotch and we end up with a bunch of the cylindrical cardboard containers. They have been annoying me for years now and today I finally turned them into a planter for CornerFarm. I used a pencil to draw parts of nasturtiums on them and I wrote little bits of nasturtium related information on them. Robin says she crunches up old plastic seed pots to use for drainage, so I used the plastic trays from Girl Guide cookies, an old water bottle, and old tin foil trays. I used a small plastic bag with hole in the bottom to put the soil in, and transplanted the seedlings into the top. Fun! If I have time I will rig the cylinders so they can be a hanging planter because the seeds I planted are the trailing variety.

Latin Name: Tropaeolum majus
Nasturcium (ME) is from the Latin-Nasturtium: nasus, nose and tortare (torquere) to twist. This wrinkled nose gesture is the physical response to the peppery quality of the plant.

Floral Remedy: Restoration
The essence is used to treat fatigue and to boost immunity. It has a warming quality that helps fight colds. It has a grounding influence on the mind. The essence helps to support the spleen and clear fuzzy thinking. Sounds like it would be good for recovering from jet lag.

Herbal Medicine: Used to stimulate the production of red blood cells. Used as a natural antibiotic, even for those who have built up a resistance to some conventional antibiotic medicines. Tea made fromt he leaves is a good tonic for the reproductive and genitourinary tracts and the respiratory system. The juice of the plants relieves itchy skin. Seeds eaten in large quantities are purgative.

Culinary: nasturtium vinegar, tea, nasturtium and potato soup, nasturtium butter, cream cheese, or mayonnaise, stuffed nasturtium leaves or flowers, etc. The seeds can be pickled like capers, or ground to make "100 mile pepper" (they were used this way in WWII). You can put the leaves and flowers in salads. The flowers can be used to decorate cupcakes.

Origin: Nasturtiums are originally from Peru where the Quechua natives used the plant medicinally for its anti-biotic properties and vitamin C content. They are also native to Mexico, South America, and Central America. They were imported to Spain by the conquistadors in the 1500's. They were used in Ayurvedic Medicine by Southeast Asians to keep guns healthy, which is why the British called it "Indian Cress".

Pest Manangement: Nasturtiums attract hummingbird and bees. They deter aphids, white flies, sqaush bugs, cucumber beetles, and snails don't care for them.

Care: Pick the blooms as they come so they will continue to bloom. They love full sun, but can't tolerate drought. Soil should not be too rich, can even be a bit sandy. They do well in hanging baskets.


Sources:
Herbs, An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Kathi Keville
How to Grow and Use Nasturtiums by Brenda Hyde www. seedsofknowledge.com
Nasturtium, Answers.com
Nasturtium Flower Essence, www.treefrogfarm.com
Nasturtium, healing.about.com