Hey Folks - here we are, back for another Monday Musings. I am so happy that tomorrow is April and the beginning of a new month. This weather continues to be nuts, but somehow the start of a new month gives me comfort as the days and seasons move along, regardless of weather.
I had a very productive day today and it was so nice because it actually felt like Spring outside! Maverick and I went for a 6k walk, I did some seed starting and some work in the nice and warm greenhouse and even brought some seedlings out there - including snapdragons, strawflowers and nasturtiums, which is what today's musings is about.
This season, I decided that I want to grow more nasturtium after seeing the photos of the ones I haphazardly grew in 2020. The flowers were so colourful and cheerful and just kept blooming after I picked them off. The leaves are such an interesting shape too and like nothing else that I've grown. They don't perform well as a cut flower because of their short stems, that prefer to crawl or trail.
The flowers and leaves are edible and quite delicious, with a peppery, sometimes spicy flavour. They are quite an attractive addition to salads, great to use as garnish for dips & soups or to colourfully decorate desserts. I've got plans to use some in a compound butter; I've seen some photos and it looks beautiful and I'm sure it also tastes delicious! They are also not exactly easy to find to purchase at a store or anything, so I figure, I may as well grow them myself and make them available to other local enthusiasts!
I plan on selling them in small quantities through the Local Flower Collective or directly through instagram/e-mail. I just think it is important that there is access to organically grown, unsprayed flowers so that you can eat them/handle them without any concern.
I'm growing them in multiple locations this year, including in 2 beds on our backyard deck. I am also growing them in hanging baskets, where I focused on trailing varieties that should bloom all summer long. I'm planting them in metal hanging baskets, with replaceable coir liners, so that I can continue to use them for many seasons.
Today I planted out my first batch of hanging baskets and will finish the rest tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm so excited to be making my own hanging baskets and for the back gardens to be full of so much colour!
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you have a great week!
xo
Flaura Laura
