Unlike other types of microgreens, nasturtium microgreens have giant leaves and beautiful multicolored stems ranging in shades from light pink to bright yellow.
There are different kinds of nasturtium, including dwarf nasturtium, semi-trailing nasturtium, and trailing/climbing nasturtium. For best results, you want to choose a dwarf nasturtium for your microgreens. The top nasturtium for microgreens includes Whirlybird Mix, Jewel Mix, Alaska, and Empress of India.
Nasturtium is fast, growing microgreens that are ready for harvest in about two weeks. Nasturtium microgreens have a delicious peppery flavor that is delicious in main dishes like soups and stews.
Nasturtium is chockful of nutrients, including vitamin c, beta carotene, and iron. The flavonoids in this microgreen can enhance the immune system and provide antibiotic protection to help relieve colds, coughs, sore throats, and infections.
Our microgreen profile provides you with information about nasturtium microgreens. With just a quick glance, you will be able to know the details of planting and growing nasturtium microgreens.
| Attribute | Profile |
| Flavor | Nasturtium microgreens have a sharp peppery flavor. |
| Pre-Soak (Yes/No) | Yes – Nasturtium microgreens must be soaked in warm water for 3 to 4 hours. |
| Color | Nasturtiums have beautiful, large green leaves and multicolored stems, ranging in color from pale pink to yellow. |
| Germination Time | Germination typically occurs within 4 to 7 days. |
| Harvest Time | Your nasturtium microgreens will be ready to harvest in about 2 weeks. |
| Green Thumb Level (1-5) | 3 – Nasturtium microgreens are easy to grow; however, presoaking is required. |
Nasturtium microgreens like well-drained soil and 16 hours of light. You will need approximately 2 ounces of seed for each 10 inch by 20 inch microgreen grow tray.
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning growing nasturtium microgreens.
No, much like other microgreens, nasturtium microgreens will not regrow once harvested.
Nasturtium microgreens will be ready for harvest in about two weeks.
Nasturtium microgreens have a sharp, peppery flavor. These microgreens can be paired with sweet microgreens like corn, carrot, kale, or sunflower microgreens to counteract the spiciness of these tasty microgreens. Nasturtium microgreens are also wonderful on sandwiches or in soups or stews.
Nasturtium microgreens contain high amounts of vitamin C, iron, beta carotene, and lutein.
Nasturtiums have antifungal, antibacterial, and antibiotic properties, making them a strong immune system modulator. These microgreens can help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory infections and reduce inflammation in the body.
The equipment needed for growing nasturtium microgreens is the same as needed for other microgreens. When beginning to grow microgreens, expect to spend a couple of hundred dollars on supplies; however, many of these things you may have lying around your house, which can save you money.
Below you will find a list of the equipment needed to grow nasturtium microgreens. Although some pieces of equipment are labeled as optional, we recommend getting them as they will ensure a bountiful harvest.
A nasturtium microgreens starter kit provides you with the pieces of equipment needed to successfully grow microgreens. We recommend purchasing the Deluxe Microgreen Starter Kit from True Leaf Market. This kit provides you with a sampling of microgreen seeds, growing medium, grow trays, a misting bottle, and more.
If you prefer, you can purchase each piece of equipment separately. Here are the pieces of equipment you will need to successfully grow nasturtium microgreens.
Nasturtium microgreen seeds are quite large compared to other microgreen seeds. They are about the size of a chickpea and have a hard outer shell that must be soaked in warm water for about 4 hours. We recommend using a pint mason jar with a screw top lid for soaking your microgreens. This setup will allow you to drain the water without losing any seeds.
Nasturtium microgreen does best in a soilless growing medium like coconut coir or seed starting growing medium. You want a growing medium that is fine grained and drains well. This type of growing medium will help your microgreens grow strong roots and prevent soil borne diseases like root rot, mold, and powdery mildew.
Coconut coir is created using the husks of coconuts. The husks are gathered, dried, and then ground to a fine pulp. Then, the coconut coir is compacted and sold in blocks or disks. Once the coconut coir is dampened, it expands in size and is ready for planting.
Seed starting soil is a fine grained growing medium that provides young, tender plants with additional nutrients. Because the seed contains everything your microgreens need to grow, these additional nutrients are unnecessary.
You will need a total of three trays for your nasturtium microgreens. One tray will be used to hold your growing medium. This tray will need to have drainage holes. The remaining two trays should not have drainage holes. We recommend using 10 inch by 20 inch grow trays.
The grow tray with drainage holes allows you to plant your seeds in your growing medium and then water from the bottom. As the growing tray with holes sits in water, the growing medium is able to draw the water upward into the soil. This setup helps prevent overwatering which can drown tender microgreens.
One of the two growing trays without drainage holes will be used to hold the growing tray with drainage holes. This setup allows you to water your microgreens from the bottom up. The other tray without drainage holes will be used as a blackout tray during the germination process.
A misting bottle lets your gently water your microgreens via a fine mist. The fine mist produced by your misting bottle dampens the soil without disturbing your delicate microgreens.
A grow light provides your microgreens with consistent, steady light. This light ensures your microgreens grow evenly across the entire growing tray.
A heating mat provides your microgreens with consistent heat, which is needed during the germination period. Regulating soil temperatures helps to maximize the germination rate of your microgreens.
If you are like most people, you do not have a large area that you can dedicate to growing microgreens. A planting rack allows you to use the vertical space in your home. Typically, these shelves allow you to place multiple microgreen trays on each shelf.
Microgreens are planted extremely close together, which results in decreased airflow. Reduced airflow increases the risk of soilborne diseases, including powdery mildew, mold, and root rot. Circulation fans increase the airflow around your microgreens.
There are numerous types of nasturtium microgreen seeds available. We have gathered information on the top four nasturtium seeds for microgreen growers.
Whirlybird Mix – Mountain Valley Seed Company's Whirlybird Mix Nasturtium microgreen seeds feature green leaves with maroon rimmed wavy edges. The pale pink and green stems pair beautifully with the medium green leaves. The peppery flavor with undertones of fruity sweetness makes for an incredible microgreen for microgreens salads, tasty garnishes, or an addition to your favorite dish.
Jewel Mix – Mountain Valley Seed Company's Jewel Mix Nasturtium microgreen seeds feature gorgeous wavy leaves on colorful stems. The stems of Jewel Mix range from pale green to pink to shades of yellow. The wasabi flavor of this microgreen is the perfect addition to your sushi and other favorite Japanese dishes.
Alaska – Mountain Valley Seed Company's Alaska Nasturtium microgreen seeds feature wavy, round leaves. The green leaves atop green and pink stems look stunning in your dishes. Alaska nasturtium microgreens provide a succulent texture with a peppery flavor, making them a perfect microgreen for cocktails, garnishes, and microgreen salads.
Empress of India – Mountain Valley Seed Company's Empress of India Nasturtium microgreen seeds are as beautiful as they are delicious. This microgreen features bluish green leaves with maroon edges atop pink stems. The flavor of Empress of India microgreens is second to none with its salty, sweet, and spicy flavor.
Growing Nasturtium microgreens is not difficult when you follow our step-by-step instructions. We will guide you through preparing your microgreen trays to harvest and store your Nasturtium microgreens.
You will need about 2 ounces of Nasturtium microgreen seeds for each 10 inch by 20 inch growing tray. These seeds must be soaked before planting.
Place your nasturtium microgreen seeds in your mason jar and cover with warm water. Allow them to soak for about four hours. Then, drain the water and rinse your microgreen seeds with fresh water. Drain them and spread them on a dry paper towel while you prepare your growing trays.
Grab your growing tray with drainage holes. Fill the tray to the top with your growing medium. Then, press down the soil to slightly compact it. Ensure that your soil extends to every corner of your growing tray and level. Add more soil if necessary until it is about three quarters full.
Once you have filled your tray with growing medium, it is time to thoroughly saturate the soil. You can do this by placing your tray of soil in a couple of inches of water and allowing the growing medium to draw the moisture up into the soil. If you prefer, you can spray the soil down with your misting bottle. Saturate the soil and allow the water to soak into the soil for 15 minutes. Then, spray again. Complete this process of spraying and waiting 5 times to ensure your soil is saturated from the top of the tray to the bottom of the tray.
Once you have prepped your soil, it is time to plant your seeds. Sprinkle your seeds evenly across the entire surface of the tray. The seeds should be evenly spaced in a single layer. Once you have scattered the seeds, grab a handful of growing medium and sprinkle a thin layer across the seeds. Press down firmly with your hands.
When a seed is planted in the earth, it is covered with soil and watered. We mimic this by covering the planted seeds with an inverted growing tray. This will prevent light from reaching your seeds during the germination process.
When a seed is planted in the earth and covered by soil, it causes pressure and weight. This pressure or weight helps the plant to grow strong healthy roots. We can mimic this by placing a heavy book, stone, or weight atop the inverted growing tray.
Once you have prepared your microgreen trays for germination, place them atop your heating mats. Set the heating mat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating mat will help improve the germination rate of your microgreens.
Check the moisture level of your soil daily during the germination process. If the soil feels dry, mist the soil with your misting bottle and then replace the lid and the weight. It will take between 4 days and 7 days for your Nasturtium microgreens to germinate. Once 90 percent of your Nasturtium has germinated, it is time to remove the inverted grow tray.
Once your Nasturtium has germinated, it is time to place them under the grow lights and turn off your heating mat. Nasturtium microgreens require approximately 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. The grow lights make it possible to control the amount of light your microgreens receive.
Your microgreen grow lights should be placed about 12 inches above the microgreens. The microgreen planter's rack makes it easy to hang your grow lights. Finally, using a timer allows you to set when the lights will turn on and when they will turn off automatically.
Check the moisture of your soil daily. If the soil dries out, it can wreak havoc on your microgreens. Additionally, too much moisture can result in mold. If your soil dries out, place approximately 1 cup of water in the bottom tray and allow the soil to draw the moisture up for about an hour. Then, pour out any remaining water.
Circulation fans increase the airflow around your microgreens. Place your circulation fans on the side of your planter's rack. When placing your fans, ensure the air blows across the top of the microgreens. Avoid allowing the air to blow across the soil as this will cause the soil to quickly dry out.
Your Nasturtium microgreens will be ready for harvest in approximately two weeks after planting. Unlike other microgreens that are harvested when cotyledons first appear, nasturtium leaves maintain their flavor and texture as they mature. Therefore, you should allow your Nasturtium microgreens to grow until they have about four leaves.
Because the flavor can change significantly in a matter of hours, it is important that you taste your microgreens daily once true leaves begin forming. When they reach the height of perfection, it is time to harvest your Nasturtium microgreens. Withhold watering your microgreens for 12 hours before harvesting as excess moisture will shorten the life expectancy of your microgreens.
Harvesting is simple; however, certain steps must be taken to ensure maximum storage times. Begin by gathering your supplies. You will need a pair of sharp scissors or a sharp knife and some clean, dry paper towels.
Grasp your microgreens in one hand and using the other hand quickly cut the microgreens about an eighth of an inch above the soil level. Place the cut microgreens on the paper towels and continue to cut until the entire tray is harvested.
If you will be eating your Nasturtium microgreens immediately, place the microgreens in a bowl of cool, not cold water. Then, place the microgreens on a paper towel to dry before use.
If you will be storing your Nasturtium microgreens, make absolutely sure that no dampness reaches your Nasturtium microgreens as this will shorten your microgreens' life expectancy.
Once you have harvested your microgreens, it is time to store them. You will need an airtight storage bag or storage container for your microgreens. In addition to this, you will need a clean, dry paper towel.
Gather your cut microgreens together and then wrap gently in your paper towel. Then, place them in a storage container or storage bag. Make sure that your microgreens have room in your chosen storage container to prevent bruising. Seal your bag or place the airtight lid on your storage container.
Then, place your microgreens in your refrigerator's crisper. When properly stored, your Nasturtium microgreens will last about one week in the refrigerator.
Nasturtium microgreens are a perfect addition to your microgreen garden. These nutritious microgreens have a peppery flavor that pairs beautifully with other microgreens. Nasturtium microgreens are great in salads, on sandwiches, or added to a bowl of soup.
Nasturtium microgreens are packed full of nutrients, including vitamin C. Vitamin C has the ability to enhance the immune system and help it fight off illnesses and diseases. The antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antibiotic properties in Nasturtium microgreens make them a perfect addition to your microgreen garden.
