Nasturtium Planting Guide

June

How to handle nasturtium in June

Whether you're sowing, transplanting, or harvesting, nasturtium needs the right timing. Check your zone below for exact dates.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 55–65

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 10″

How to water nasturtium
Water deeply but infrequently. nasturtium prefers to dry out between waterings — soggy soil causes more problems than thirst.
Where to put nasturtium
South-facing beds are ideal for nasturtium. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant nasturtium. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Get nasturtium planting dates for your county →

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a fast-growing annual with distinctive round, lily-pad leaves and bold trumpet-shaped blooms in warm oranges, reds, and yellows. Both the flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery watercress flavor. Planted near vegetables, nasturtiums act as a sacrifice trap-crop, luring aphids away from more valuable plants. They thrive in poor, dry soil — rich conditions produce lush foliage but few flowers.

Tropaeolum majus · Flower · Tropaeolaceae family · 55–65 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting Fragrant

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Nasturtium is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Nasturtium Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Nasturtium?

Zone Compatibility for Nasturtium Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 2a	May 2	Jun 13	Jun 13	Aug 8 – Oct 3
Zone 2b	Apr 24	Jun 5	Jun 5	Jul 31 – Oct 2
Zone 3a	Apr 17	May 29	May 29	Jul 24 – Oct 2
Zone 3b	Apr 12	May 24	May 24	Jul 19 – Sep 27
Zone 4a	Apr 8	May 20	May 20	Jul 15 – Sep 30
Zone 4b	Apr 3	May 8	May 8	Jul 3 – Sep 25
Zone 5a	Mar 28	May 2	May 2	Jun 27 – Oct 3
Zone 5b	Mar 21	Apr 25	Apr 25	Jun 20 – Oct 3
Zone 6a	Mar 13	Apr 17	Apr 17	Jun 12 – Oct 2
Zone 6b	Mar 6	Apr 3	Apr 3	May 29 – Sep 25
Zone 7a	Feb 25	Mar 25	Mar 25	May 20 – Sep 23
Zone 7b	Feb 18	Mar 18	Mar 18	May 13 – Sep 30
Zone 8a	Feb 8	Mar 1	Mar 1	Apr 26 – Sep 27
Zone 8b	Jan 28	Feb 11	Feb 11	Apr 8 – Sep 23
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Jan 20	Mar 17 – Sep 15
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Dec 28	Dec 28	Feb 22 – Sep 6
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Nov 20	Nov 20	Jan 15 – Aug 13
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Nov 13	Nov 13	Jan 8 – Aug 20
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Nov 6	Nov 6	Jan 1 – Aug 27
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Oct 30	Oct 30	Dec 25 – Sep 3

How to Plant Nasturtium

0.5"

Planting Depth

10"

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 8

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

55–65 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Tropaeolaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Tropaeolaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Nasturtium

Nasturtium matures in just 55–65 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.3 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Nasturtium

✅ Good Companions

Tomatoes Cucumbers Squash Radishes Brassicas

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Nasturtium

Direct-sow large seeds 1/2 inch deep after last frost; soak seeds overnight to speed germination (7-10 days). Nasturtiums dislike root disturbance so direct sowing is strongly preferred. Avoid fertilizing — poor soil brings the best bloom. Trailing types can cover banks and climb trellises; dwarf types suit containers. In hot climates (zones 9+) plant in fall for winter/spring bloom as plants struggle in peak summer heat.

Saving Nasturtium Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
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Nasturtium by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Nasturtium?

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) takes 55 to 65 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Nasturtium grow in?

Nasturtium can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Nasturtium need?

Growing Nasturtium requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 8.