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  • #1

    Nastursiums

    I have grown these for the first time this year and I have decided I dont like them. The leaves are huge and absolutly covered in blackfly and catterpillars. I knew they would attract blackfly thats one of the reasons for having them.
    I am sure I didnt have this many last year. Do I leave them or take them out.
    Gardening ..... begins with daybreak
    and ends with backache
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  • #2
    Wash them off and eat the plants! Leaves and flowers can go in a salad. If you leave them to set seed the fruits can be pickled like capers (although I prefer real capers!).

    People plant them to attract the blackfly off other plants but I don't think they increase the overall density of blackfly in the area. Could be wrong though. I've never had so little to do that I've taken to blackfly counting!
    Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

    www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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    • #3
      If you can be bothered, pick off and compost the affected leaves (pests as well).

      Otherwise, rip out the whole plant and compost it.

      It's a shame, because nasturtium is one of my most favourite salad ingredients (hot and peppery, yum)
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        Wouldnt like to eat them the state they are in, even after washing. I have never knowingly eaten any. I have always had blackfly on my orange blossom and hoped the nastturtiums would have them instead but not to this extent lol
        Gardening ..... begins with daybreak
        and ends with backache

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        • #5
          I used to like nasturtiums. Really easy to grow pretty flowers....but as you say, seem to be a landing spot for butterfly egg-laying. Have had some blackfly on the leaves but last year was so bad we ended up ripping up the plants and putting them in the council compost bin! Shame.

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          • #6
            Watch out next year if you let them go to seed! I still hoe off several every day from the year before's "experiment" at growing them to draw off the blackfly. I think they are as bad as any weed that grows.

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            • #7
              Srodders, they've got to be the easiest "weed" to pull up though.
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                Maybe this is one of those 'loads more aphids' type years as our elder tree is also totally coated with them - enough that Im not sure about making elderflower champagne from it any more :-( It always gets blackfly, but I was shocked at the amount of them this year.
                odd notes about our kitchen garden project:
                http://www.distractedbyathing.net/tag/garden/

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                • #9
                  If they weren't there just think how badly infested your other plants would be.
                  A good beginning is half the work.
                  Praise the young and they will make progress.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by sweetiepea View Post
                    If they weren't there just think how badly infested your other plants would be.
                    But have I got more blackfly because of the nasturtiums ?????? They are on everything
                    Gardening ..... begins with daybreak
                    and ends with backache

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                    • #11
                      This is my 4th year of growing nasturtiums - and the first year I've had caterpillars! The little s*ds are munching the leaves faster than I can pick them off!

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