When to Plant Nasturtium in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Nasturtium guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 25 cm apart
Nasturtium is an easy trailing plant with round leaves and bright flowers. Both are edible, with a peppery taste. It prefers poor soil and full sun, and rich soil gives you leaves and few flowers.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow nasturtium in any month in Tropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Nasturtium included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Nasturtium in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Not fussy. Poorer soil is better, as rich soil gives leaves over flowers (Bunnings, Seeds of Plenty).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun is best, light shade is tolerated (Bunnings).
- Spacing
- 25cm apart
- Watering
- Water reliably while young. Once settled, about once a week, with extra water only in very dry spells (Bunnings). Leaf quality falls in drought (Seeds of Plenty).
- Good companions
- Cabbage (trap crop), Kale (trap crop), Collards (trap crop), Turnip (trap crop for aphids), Rutabaga (trap crop)
Tropical Growing Tips for Nasturtium
Recommended Varieties
- Common nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Key Challenges
- Mildew in humid weather
- Caterpillars
Pro Tips
- Poor soil, little water
- Pick flowers often
Pests and problems for Nasturtium in Tropical
Harvesting Nasturtium
When ready: Pick leaves and open flowers any time once the plant is growing well. Gardenate gives 2 to 3 months from sowing.
How to harvest: Pick leaves and flowers by hand. Rinse well before eating, and wait a few days after any fertiliser (Bunnings).
Storing and preserving nasturtium
How to keep it
- Fresh only. Pick and use leaves and flowers fresh in salads. No Australian source read for preserving.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Nasturtium
When do you plant nasturtium in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): all year
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
Can you grow nasturtium all year round in Cairns?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Gardenate lists every month for the tropics. Sow direct or plant seedlings. It prefers poor soil and moderate water, and wet season humidity brings mildew and caterpillars.
When should I plant Nasturtium in Cairns?
Gardenate lists every month for the tropics. Sow direct or plant seedlings. It prefers poor soil and moderate water, and wet season humidity brings mildew and caterpillars.
What soil temperature do Nasturtium need?
Nasturtium germinate best when soil temperature is between 21°C and 27°C.
How do I know when Nasturtium are ready to harvest?
Pick leaves and open flowers any time once the plant is growing well. Gardenate gives 2 to 3 months from sowing.
What are the best Nasturtium varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Common nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus).
What grows well with Nasturtium?
Good companion plants for Nasturtium include: Cabbage, Kale, Collards, Turnip, Rutabaga.
Are nasturtium salt tolerant?
No. Nasturtium are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.