...using the logic of ecology

nasturtium and its use in italian gardens

Nasturtiums don’t generally spring to mind when considering planting an Italian garden, however, they are extremely useful both in the Italian vegetable garden (Orto) and the Italian kitchen.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is a red-flowered annual climbing species from a genus of around 80 species, including watercress. It is native to South and Central America but has been cultivated as a garden plant for many years, owing to its bright red, tubular flowers and climbing growth habit. Nasturtium is ideal for growing over small pergolas, fencing or for covering unsightly objects in the garden.
In an ‘ecologica’ garden the nasturtium is useful for growing between other climbers in the kitchen garden such as squash, cucumbers and snap peas, as the ecologica garden strives to be not only beautiful but also practical.
Both the leaves of the nasturtium are edible with the leaves having the strongest flavour, rather like a strong, peppery rocket flavour. The flowers can look great when tossed into typical Italian salads and they also provide a sweeter version of the same flavour.
In the formal Italian garden Nasturtiums can be used to grow through evergreen hedges, maybe to cover some of the inevitable dead patches that occur in older cypress’ etc. The bright red of the nasturtium flowers is set off wonderfully against the green backdrop of evergreen hedging and the plant looks particularly good when growing through other green foliage plants. Growing nasturtiums through cucumbers will also repel cucumber beetle.
Nasturtium can also be found in its striking yellow form but the classic red remains by far the most useful and recognised of this species. They are all easy to grow and require very little in return for their annual display. Plant in full sun, mulch and water well and this plant will do everything you want and maybe even more ...