Nasturtium "Tip Top Mix"
Edible Flower and nectar plant beloved by gardeners, bumblebees, and hummingbirds alike. Tip Top holds its flowers above the foliage instead of underneath like many nasturtiums, so the rich colors are visible from a distance.
Fast-growing, and very easy. I always gave my kids nasturtiums for their first seeds to plant on their own. As fast as radishes, and much more fun, with big, easy-to-handle seeds. (What kid can resist seeds that look like brains? And the heirloom varieties like this with nectar spurs are as good as honeysuckle for a sweet treat.) Every part of the plant is edible, with a peppery tang like watercress: leaves and flowers are good in salads, pasta dishes, garnish, and stir-fries. The buds can be pickled (or packed in salt) as a substitute for capers. Likes cool weather but not frost. Perfect for full sun in maritime and northern climates or for shady spots in hot-summer areas. I plant them under my fruit trees or in pots on a shady porch. The picture was taken during 90-degree heat, but the planter box was on the east side of a building and got morning sun only. 40 seeds