Nasturtium, Empress of India Seeds

Nasturtiums do not transplant well and seeds should be sown directly into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past. Soil temperature (not air temperature) should be warmer than 12°C (55°F) for seeds to germinate Planting at a lower temperature will delay germination. Choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Space seeds and plant to the depth indicated below. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 2.5 m (1 in.) of soil. After planting, water the seeds with a gentle mist or shower. A hard spray can wash soil away, dislodge seeds and clump them together. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. Do not let the soil dry out, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below to provide good air circulation and room to grow.