Nasturtium - cultivation, application, effects and recipes

Nasturtium - colorful, healthy and flower of love

The nasturtium combines good taste, beautiful flowers and healing power, thrives in the shade, on the balcony as in the garden and hardly needs care. It is easy to grow and protects against predators such as insects and snails. All in all a dream plant for the herb garden. Here are the most important facts:

• Nasturtium contains mustard oil glycosides, which inhibit inflammation and act against bacteria, fungi and viruses.
• The plant tastes very good and almost all parts are edible.
• As a strong climbing plant, the nasturtium is also ideal for greening garages, backyards, balconies or house walls and it produces aesthetically pleasing flowers.

contents

• Nasturtium - colorful, healthy and flower of love
• ingredients
• curative effect
• Why nasturtium?
• The "flower of love"
• Remedy for scurvy
• Tea for a cold
• Other applications
• How do I recognize nasturtium??
• Which species are common?
• cultivation
• Cooking with nasturtium
• Who should do without nasturtium??

ingredients

Nasturtium contains iron, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and phosphorus as well as vitamin C. It fits in with a healthy diet. Their pungent taste continues to show the existing mustard oil glycosides. These are used to deter microbes that damage the plant and acts against bacteria, fungi and viruses. This also helps people who consume the plant: mustard oil glycosides are effective against staphylococci, coliforms and even against influenza viruses. In envelopes on the skin they stimulate the blood circulation. The glycosides are converted by the body into enzymes, and these benzylated oils irritate the tissues. Nasturtium acts as a natural antibiotic without it being possible to establish any resistance.

The nasturtium combines good taste, beautiful flowers and healing power - it contains mustard oil glycosides, which inhibit inflammation and act against bacteria, fungi and viruses. (Image: hcast / fotolia.com)

glucosinolates

Mustard oil glycosides are chemical compounds that contain nitrogen and sulfur, which are formed from amino acids. These are phytochemicals. They provide the typical taste of radish, mustard, horseradish, cabbage and nasturtium - sharp and bitter at the same time. Mustard oil glycosides are highly active against bacteria. These substances, obtained from nasturtium and horseradish, are used in medicine to prevent respiratory diseases and urinary tract infections. In addition, they inhibit inflammation. In Central Europe, these substances are originally found only in cruciferous vegetables, to which nasturtium does not belong. In other words, the taste of nasturtium is reminiscent of local mustard varieties, but the plants are not closer to each other. The mustard oil glycoside glucotropaeolin (GTL) present in nasturtium is otherwise found in garden cress, garlic vine, horseradish tree and maca.

curative effect

Applied externally, nasturtium helps against inflamed airways, sinusitis, bronchitis and urinary tract infections, improves healing of wounds, relieves digestive problems and counteracts minor skin lesions, rashes and acne.

Why nasturtium?

The plants are originally from South America. The Incas used them as a medicinal herb and put the leaves on wounds to promote healing. The Spanish conquerors brought them to Europe. Here the nasturtium got its name because the calyx reminded of the hoodoos of the Capuchin monks. This association also led to names like Pfaffenkapp, Mönchskapüzchen or Kapuzinerli. Lettuce flower and salad cress show that they have been used as food since their arrival in the Old World.

The calyx remind of the hoods of the Capuchin monks, this association also led to names like Pfaffenkapp, Mönchskapüzchen or Kapuzinerli. (Image: Dariusz Kopestynski / fotolia.com)

The "flower of love"

Benzyl isothiocyanate reduces tolerance to alcohol. Although you should therefore avoid taking the plant and drinking alcohol at the same time, but this disinhibition in the past just led to nasturtium was considered an aphrodisiac - as Flor de Amor or "flower of love". Good for the general health, that this once popular effect of nasturtium is almost forgotten today.

Remedy for scurvy

The plant became popular in the 19th century. Doctors now knew that the "seafaring disease" scurvy was due to a lack of vitamin C. This contains the South American herb in quantities. The seeds are easy to store, and Capuchin press can also be pulled well on ships with the right soil, as well as in the housing blocks of the poor, among whose inhabitants the vitamin deficiency was widespread. Finally, in 1958, a doctor discovered Winter that the Benzylsenföle in flowers and leaves are a remedy for infected urinary and respiratory tract.

Tea for a cold

Nasturtium can be used for a variety of healing purposes. A proven home remedy is a tea of ​​dried leaves for colds. These are ground and about two teaspoons of it are added to hot water. This then takes ten minutes, and we drink the tea during a cold two to three times a day. To prevent a cold, you can regularly eat fresh leaves and flowers of the plant.

Other applications

Nasturtium can also be consumed excellent raw. As a medicine, you can also make a tincture from 100 grams of fresh herbs, which they put in about 400 milliliters of clear brandy. Seal the mixture tightly in a glass and let it rest for ten days. Then peel off the liquid. For digestive problems, inflammation of the respiratory tract and other internal complaints, adults may take three drops three times a day.

How do I recognize nasturtium??

Nasturtium is easily recognized by its round leaves. The leaf blades have the shape of shields and are split like the fingers of a hand, botanists call it lobed. These leaves fall off in late summer, and on the sprouting tendrils, flowers appear in yellow, orange to dark red, which seem almost too beautiful for a medicinal plant. Nasturtium climbs or crawls, depending on the possibilities offered by the tendrils. With appropriate fences, metal arches, walls, trees or house walls, the plants can grow up to three meters in height.

Nasturtium is easily recognized by its round leaves. The sprouting tendrils produce flowers in yellow, orange to dark red. (Image: shiro2mashiro / fotolia.com)

Which species are common?

About eight of the about ninety species of nasturtium are cultivated as ornamental plants, but especially the large nasturtium in particular as a medicinal and nutritious herb. Their young leaves season salads, the flowers decorate soups, salads and main courses, the closed buds can be put into vinegar or salt. In South America, the tuberous nasturtium plays a role as a food, in Europe, it is rare.

cultivation

If you start as a hobby gardener, the nasturtium is an ideal beginner plant, because it makes little claims. She likes the sun, but also prefers partial shade or even shadow, but she does not proliferate so much. She likes less sandy and dry soils, but a layer of house compost helps over it easily.

A dark germ

Nasturtium is a dark germ, you press the seeds about 2 cm deep into the ground. The results quickly become apparent: The first cotyledons appear after one to two weeks, and a few weeks later you will see a wealth of tendrils. You can also raise the seeds from March on the windowsill - normal garden soil is sufficient.

Moisture, no moisture

Nasturtium needs no water, they can even damage the flowers. Drought and waterlogging you both do not like, the soil should always be slightly wet. Avoid using fertilizer unless the soil is extremely lean. Then enough compost. The nasturtium evaporates a lot of water in the summer due to its large leaves. In Germany, this is usually hardly a problem thanks to the thunderstorms, but in case of prolonged drought you should water early in the morning or in the evening. Do not pour over the leaves, but close to the ground.

A little tip: The wild nasturtium grows in the banks of streams in stony environment. So if you do not have time to water, for example, because your garden is separate from your home, you can also locate the nasturtium in the environment of a garden pond or swamp bed. This is also aesthetically pleasing if you have newly created this wetland and do not want to look at pond liner: In just a few weeks, a layer of leaves covers the new plant. Even better, you can plant the plant directly at the water connection of your garden or backyard, killing two birds with one stone: the garden hose and faucet are rarely aesthetically pleasing - the nasturtium now benefits firstly from the water that automatically drains away when you take the water Secondly, it covers the technical part of the garden with a green-colored ceiling. From the beginning of June to the end of September, you will find yourself facing flowers that are almost too good to pick from. In Germany, not in their homeland, the nasturtium is annual, since the plant survives no frost. In the vegetable patch she is a good neighbor for all types of cabbage.

privacy

As nasturtium grows quickly and forms a dense foliage, it is excellently suitable as a privacy screen and quickly fills out climbing aids both in height and in width. It is also ideal for turning bare balcony bars into a mini jungle and decorates garden gates as well as pavilions. Nasturtium is an insider tip for raised beds. No matter if they are made of dead wood, metal, boards or plastic, the vine soon covers the frame and is just as much a kitchen plant as the vegetables in the bed itself. The yield zone ensures optimal use and good looks at the same time. The most suitable are tight-meshed ranknets, which form standing rectangles instead of squares. The young shoots pull themselves well on bamboo sticks and branches in the air. The tendrils are thin, the plant juicy and soft without woody structure - so it needs support from tying material, preferably elastic cords.

As nasturtium grows quickly and forms a dense foliage, it is excellently suitable as a privacy screen and quickly fills out climbing aids both in height and in width. (Image: were / fotolia.com)

pests

Nasturtium has an effective arsenal of "weapons" against harmful microorganisms, but the black aphids bother her. Means against these troublemakers are ladybug larvae, lacewings and stinging nettle. Some gardeners even cultivate the abundant nasturtium as a catching plant for aphids. Instead of various, sometimes more sensitive plants, the masses of the eaters then concentrate on the nasturtium and can be easily removed.

Cooking with nasturtium

Nasturtium is as much food as spice - the taste is peppery. Therefore nasturtium is not recommended as the main ingredient of salads or soups, but as the icing on the cake. Then she refines quarks, yogurts and dips, gives soups and sauces that special something and enriches bland raw salads.

wild herbs Salad

In the natural kitchen nasturtium is a star in the wild herb salad. For example, it combines well with yum, Swiss chard, spinach, lamb's lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins. The spice goes perfectly with pasta, potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke and rice. A flower potpourri on such a wild herb salad is not widely used. In addition to the flowers of the nasturtium, you can take the flowers of dandelions, daisies and daisies and as a basis for example yaw, dandelion leaves (then you need sweetener in the dressing), sorrel, raw chard or spinach. If you use dandelion flowers, you need to collect and freeze them in April - when the nasturtium blooms, the dandelions have long since gone into the wind.

Unusual, but delicious is a salad of mango, mint and nasturtium. For this, cut the mango into cubes and pluck the leaves from mint and cress, stir a dressing of a little vegetable oil and balsamic vinegar, pour it over the mango cubes and sprinkle the leaves over it. Also a tomato salad wins with nasturtium. Cut several tomatoes into quarters, a cucumber into cubes and a spring onion into slices. Do not use ordinary onions, as the nasturtium and onion are together too much of a good thing. They mix tomato, cucumber and spring onion, sprinkle the leaves of nasturtium over it and round off everything with an oil-balsamic dressing. The recipe also works with flowers of nasturtium, where yellow and orange flowers harmonize visually very well with the red of the tomatoes and the green of the cucumber.

Nasturtium can be used in many ways in natural cuisine, for example as a salad. (Image: juliedeshaies / fotolia.com)

Herb butter and scrambled eggs

Herb butter with nasturtium is also a great change. Warm a packet of butter, preferably in a water bath, and sprinkle the crushed leaves or flowers into it. You can also add other culinary herbs: parsley and chives. Nasturtium is ideal for scrambled eggs and egg dishes in general (such as omelets), casseroles, salmon and trout, poultry and venison.

loaf

Nasturtium bread: This medicinal herb is best served on a cold platter of sandwiches. Classically, instead of the usual parsley, you can sprinkle the leaves of the nasturtium over buns with hard-boiled eggs or place the leaves in a mayonnaise that you place on boiled turkey breasts.

Pesto

You can also make a pesto by mixing the shredded leaves with garlic, parmesan and pine nuts, add olive oil, puree everything in a blender and seal in a glass. Variants include a pesto with nasturtium, greed and walnuts and pesto with nasturtium and basil or pesto with nasturtium and dried tomatoes.

potato salad

A healthy alternative to mayonnaise-flavored potato salad is a light version of nasturtium. Here you cook boiled potatoes until they soften, then peel and cut into slices. From vinegar and oil, prepare a dressing and season it with salt and nasturtium. You can also add paprika and diced tomatoes, pieces of cucumber or boiled pumpkin balls.

Soup

For a soup, you can, for example, boil young nettle leaves, potatoes, carrots and yams, put nasturtium into the finished soup and puree everything in a blender. With nasturtium-based soups, the possibilities are immense: you can use potatoes, carrots, peas, lentils or chickpeas as a base, as well as lovage lovage, parsley or marjoram. Basically, cook everything together with the nasturtium and then puree it in the blender.

With nasturtium soups, the possibilities are immense: they can be based on potatoes, carrots, peas, lentils or chickpeas. (Image: irottlaender / fotolia.com)

Who should do without nasturtium??

Mustard oils - and therefore all plants that contain them - are too hot for infants and toddlers. If you suffer from stomach and intestinal ulcers and stomach inflammation, nasturtium is also not suitable. (Dr Utz Anhalt)