Whether you’ve got a sprawling backyard or a cozy balcony garden, nasturtiums are a total classic. They’re gorgeous, easy-going, and honestly, they just make any space look better. The only catch? They aren’t exactly fans of the cold. If you want to keep yours going through the winter, you’ll need to give them a little extra TLC. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your nasturtiums happy until spring.
What You Need to Know
To get your nasturtiums through the winter without any drama, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
- Nasturtiums are not frost-hardy (they’re basically the beach bums of the plant world).
- You need to know if yours is an annual or a perennial variety.
- You’ve got to provide the right indoor conditions for them to survive the chill.
With a little bit of prep, overwintering these beauties is totally doable. It’s more about a little elbow grease than gardening magic!
How to Overwinter Your Nasturtiums
If your nasturtiums are currently living in your garden beds, you’ll need to be a bit bold. Give them a good pruning and transplant them into a pot. Once they’re potted up, find them a bright, sunny spot that stays safely above freezing. A sunroom or a bright enclosed porch is the perfect winter getaway for them. How much you need to cut them back really just depends on how much space you have in your house!
If you’re already growing your nasturtiums in containers on a balcony, you’re one step ahead! No need for a new pot. Just give the plant a little “spa day” by trimming off any wilted flowers or dead leaves. Then, move the whole pot to its winter home. During these colder months, take it easy on the watering—only give them a drink if the soil is starting to feel really dry.
Other Ways to Keep the Magic Alive
If you don’t have the room to bring a giant pot inside, don’t worry—you’ve got options! You can take cuttings from your plant, which take up way less space. Keep those little guys growing indoors over the winter, and by spring, they’ll be ready to be planted out. You’ll have a lush garden again in no time.
Another great method is saving seeds. Just make sure the seeds are completely dry before you store them so they don’t get moldy. Once the ground warms up in the spring, you can sow them directly into the soil and start the cycle all over again.
The Bottom Line: You’ve Got This!
Even though nasturtiums can’t handle a frost, it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying them year after year. Whether you’re moving pots inside or starting fresh from seeds or cuttings, keeping these plants around is a breeze. With just a little effort, you’ll be seeing those vibrant blooms again before you know it!
