When to Plant Nasturtiums
Sow nasturtiums outside 1 to 3 weeks after your last frost.
Nasturtiums at a glance
- Sow outside
- 1 to 3 weeks after your last frost
- Time to bloom
- 45 to 60 days from sowing
- In bloom for
- about 16 weeks
- Spacing
- 4 per square foot
- Frost
- Tender: frost kills it
Growing nasturtiums
Nasturtiums grow easily from large seeds sown half an inch deep after the last frost. Trailing kinds spill over edges or climb a fence; bushy kinds stay compact. Aphids often go to them first, which can spare nearby crops.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Sow | In bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Jun 4–18 | Jul 19 – Sep 14 |
| Zone 3b | May 24 – Jun 7 | Jul 8 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 4a | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 3 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 4b | May 15–29 | Jun 29 – Oct 1 |
| Zone 5a | May 10–24 | Jun 24 – Oct 5 |
| Zone 5b | May 8–22 | Jun 22 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 6a | May 6–20 | Jun 20 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 6b | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 14 – Oct 4 |
| Zone 7a | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jun 7 – Sep 27 |
| Zone 7b | Apr 12–26 | May 27 – Sep 16 |
| Zone 8a | Apr 5–19 | May 20 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 8b | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 8 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 9a | Mar 9–23 | Apr 23 – Aug 13 |
| Zone 9b | Feb 15 – Mar 1Nights are still cool before mid-February, so this starts a little later. | Apr 1 – Jul 22 |
| Zone 10a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Jul 22 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so nasturtiums can go in from late winter, and again in late summer for a fall crop. | |
Questions about nasturtiums
Are nasturtiums edible?
Yes. The flowers and leaves taste peppery, like watercress, and look lovely in salads.
Do nasturtiums come back?
They are grown as annuals, but they often seed themselves, and new plants come up the next spring once the soil warms.
