When to plant nasturtium

Nasturtium (flower) is classed tender in the cited extension guidance. The timing rules below are relative to your local freeze dates — enter a location to turn them into calendar dates.

The rules this site applies
MethodFrost-relative windowRule & reconciliation
Start seeds indoors6–4 weeks before the median last spring freezeUW-Madison states seed can be started indoors in peat pots 4 to 6 weeks before the last expected spring frost, giving 42 to 28 days before last frost.
Transplant outdoorsfrom the median last spring freeze to 2 weeks afterNC Cooperative Extension (Pender County) names nasturtium among the large-seeded plants to transplant outdoors after the threat of frost, giving a two-week set-out window from the last-frost date.
Direct-sow outdoorsfrom the median last spring freeze to 2 weeks afterSources disagree - UW-Madison and Illinois Extension sow nasturtium only once all danger of frost has passed, while Iowa State treats it as a cool-season annual that can go in 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost - and the later, more frost-conservative after-frost window wins, opening at the last-frost date and running two weeks.

Variety assumption: Covers both climbing (T. majus) and bush (T. minus) garden nasturtiums; Illinois Extension notes nasturtium does not transplant well, so the transplant window assumes peat or paper pots planted intact, as UW-Madison specifies.

Crop rule sources (4)
Reviewed city pages for nasturtium
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