Phoenix Nasturtium Seeds

Phoenix Nasturtium Seeds

The Famous "Flame Nasturtium" is Here!

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(P) Pkt of 20 seeds
Item # 51477-PK-P1
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$3.95
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Phoenix has burst onto the garden scene at last! Long awaited and more than a decade in the making, this British introduction is nothing short of a sensation. Instead of their usual rounded shape, the petals of every bloom on this flowering annual are "cut" into 3 to 4 points, like flames or fishtails.

Scalloped between the points, these petals are stunning, standing out brilliantly among ivy-leaf shaped leaves of bright green. The blooms arise in both bright and pastel shades, giving you the classic golds, oranges, and reds of nasturtiums as well as the less common creams, peaches, and salmons. Many petals are brushed with mahogany near the base! And they are unbelievably profuse, beginning in early summer and continuing nonstop until frost in most areas. Phoenix is not only a new look for the family, it's one of the easiest and most productive, too!

And as if all this weren't enough, Phoenix also boasts a versatile habit. Some nasturtiums are vining, others bushy, but Phoenix is both! You can let its stems trail from hanging baskets and flowerpots, or you can grow it "upright" in beds and containers, where it will mound instead of spreading. The choice is yours! Generally about 12 inches high and 14 inches wide, it will adjust a bit to fit the habit you choose for it -- lower and more trailing in baskets, higher and more compact in beds.

Nasturtium is grown both for its beauty and for its uses as an herb. The flowers and leaves are edible, making beautiful additions to salads and handsome garnishes on the plate. Nasturtium has a peppery bite not unlike watercress (one of its common names is Indian Cress), and is best used in savory dishes.

Like all Nasturtiums, Phoenix is a splendid companion to vegetables in the garden. Not only does it attract beneficial bees to the garden, it helps ward off pests that want to nibble your veggie plants. It protects the Brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, mustard and collard greens, etc.) especially well from a range of predators, including aphids and squash beetles. It is also useful as a barrier planting around your tomatoes and cucumbers, and some gardeners find it a helpful pest deterrent when ringed around young fruit trees. Just another excuse to grow more beautiful Phoenix plants!

Nasturtium is easy to grow from seed. Nick or soak the seeds before sowing. Then direct-sow into the garden or the final container in which they will grow, or start them indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the last anticipated spring frost in your area. Expect germination to take a week or so. The plants need full sun for best flowering; they will grow in part shade, but the blooms will not be as numerous or large. Poor soil often works better than rich for promoting bloom strength.

Tropaeolum Germination Information

Tropaeolum is the botanical name for Nasturtium
Tropaeolum Seed Germination How to Sow Tropaeolum:
  • Best sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past
  • Seeds can be started indoors at 65° with germination occurring in 7-12 days
  • Indoors and out, completely cover the seeds as they need darkness to germinate
  • Alternatively, sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has past
  • When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed

How to Grow Tropaeolum:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves, being very careful with the roots as they resent being disturbed

Spacing:  Space 8-12 inches apart in full sun to light shade

Soil: Site in a slightly acid or slightly alkaline, light, sandy, dry, poor, well-drained soil. Plants flower best in poor soils; rich soils promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers. No need to fertilize

Temperature: It grows best in dry climates with cool summer nights

Appearance and Use:

VA vigorous annual for use as a ground cover in beds, as edging, and for summer screening. It also works well trailing over the sides of containers and walls. Plants can be of two forms: trailing and climbing to 8 feet or compact and bushy to 12 inches. The 2- 21/2 inch flowers are funnel-shaped with a spur in the back. Where happy, they will flower from late spring through to frost. Petal arrangement is either single or double in colors of yellow, orange, red, salmon, and apricot. The pale green, 2-7 inch diameter, round leaves are supported by petioles in their centers. Both leaves and flowers are used to add a peppery flavor to salads


About Tropaeolum:
Pronunciation:  tro-pa’o-lum ma’jus
Lifecycle:  Annual
Origination: Tropaeolaceae, native to the Andes
Common Name: Nasturtium

Superior Germination Through Superior Science

Park's Superior Seeds Park Seed's humidity- and temperature-controlled seed storage vault Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.

First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.

Superior Standards - University Inspected

Testing seeds against minimum germination standards To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.

Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians

Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.

When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.

The Park Seed Gold Standard

Park Seed's exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil seed packets And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.

When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
GMO freeIt is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.

What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.

Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).

Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.

What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Pelleted pentas seedsExtremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.

What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.

How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.

How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.

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