Nasturtiums are the cheerful multitaskers of a Zone 7 garden: bright flowers in red, orange and yellow, round lily-pad leaves, and — unusually for a flower — both the leaves and the flowers are edible, with a peppery bite that lifts salads. They are also genuinely useful in the vegetable garden, acting as a trap crop that draws aphids away from your beans and cucumbers, and their flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Like cosmos, they flower best in poor soil: feed them and you get leaves, not flowers. Trailing types spill beautifully from pots and hanging baskets; climbing types will scramble up a fence or trellis.
Zone 7 at a glance
USDA Zone 7 has average winter lows of 0 to 10°F, and the frost-free season runs from Mar 15–Apr 1 to Nov 1–15 in an average year — roughly seven to eight frost-free months. Those are USDA/NOAA zone averages, not promises for any one garden — check your local extension service for your own frost dates, because microclimate, elevation and the year itself can shift them by weeks. The planting calendar hub gives the Zone 7 picture month by month, and the frost date calculator can help you work from your own local averages.
| Detail | Zone 7 guidance |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | Mar 15–Apr 1 (average/range) |
| Average first autumn frost | Nov 1–15 (average/range) |
| Winter low | 0 to 10°F |
| Days to germination | 7–14 days |
| Days to maturity | 50–60 days |
| Sowing | direct sow |
| Transplanting | Sow direct after Mar 15–Apr 1 |
| Harvest | 50–60 days after sowing |
| Sun | full sun |
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Spacing | 8–12 inches |
| Water needs | moderate |
When to plant nasturtiums in Zone 7
Nasturtiums are tender in Zone 7, so sow direct outdoors after the last frost (Mar 15–Apr 1), once the soil has warmed — sown too early in cold soil, the seeds may rot. Their 50–60-day maturity is quick, so a second sowing in early summer keeps flowers coming until the first frost in Nov 1–15.
Seed germinates in 7–14 days in warm, moist soil. Give seedlings strong light and harden them off for a week before they go outside. The frost date calculator turns your frost averages into sowing dates — see also Zone 7 April for what else is happening in the garden that month.
Starting nasturtiums in Zone 7
Nasturtiums are sown direct where they are to grow — they dislike transplanting and germinate readily in warm soil. Sow after the last frost, once the soil has warmed, pushing the large seeds about an inch deep and 8–12 inches apart. Germination takes 7–14 days; soaking the seeds overnight beforehand can speed it up. Do not enrich the soil or feed them — lean soil gives more flowers. Thin if seedlings are crowded, and give climbing types a trellis or fence to scramble up, or let trailing types spill over the edge of a raised bed or container.
Soil, spacing, sun and water
Nasturtiums grow best in full sun, in soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Dig in well-rotted compost before planting to improve drainage and moisture holding. Space plants 8–12 inches apart — it is tempting to crowd plants in, but crowded plants stay small and invite disease, so use the plant spacing calculator if you are laying out a bed. Nasturtiums need moderate water: Water deeply and less often rather than lightly every day, water at the base in the morning so leaves dry before night, and mulch to keep the soil evenly moist.
Companion planting
Good companions for nasturtiums include lavender, marigolds, garlic, chives. The companion planting finder can suggest combinations for your whole bed. Avoid planting nasturtiums where the same family (Tropaeolaceae) grew last year, and keep aggressive spreaders in their own space so they do not crowd out slower neighbours. For a bed that works well together, see Zone 7 Cucumbers.
Pests and problems
The common pests and problems to watch for with nasturtiums are aphids, slugs, cutworms. Aphids cluster on soft new growth and buds; wash them off with a strong jet of water and encourage ladybirds. Slugs and snails chew seedlings and low leaves at night, especially in damp weather; go out after dark with a torch, or use barriers and traps. Cutworms chew through young stems at soil level overnight; a cardboard collar around each seedling stops them. Inspect plants regularly and act early — healthy, well-spaced plants resist pests better than stressed ones.
Harvest and storage
Nasturtiums take 50–60 days to maturity, flowering from early summer. Pick flowers and young leaves in the morning for salads — the flowers have a mild peppery flavour and the leaves are stronger — and pick often, because regular picking keeps new flowers coming. The seed pods can be pickled like capers. Nasturtiums flower until the first frost, which averages Nov 1–15 in Zone 7. Pull and compost the plants at the end of the season; they are annuals, though they often self-sow, so watch for seedlings next spring.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant nasturtiums in Zone 7?
Work from the frost averages: last frost Mar 15–Apr 1, first frost Nov 1–15. Nasturtiums are tender in Zone 7, so time your sowing and planting around those dates rather than a calendar date, and check your local extension service for your own frost dates.
Can I grow nasturtiums in Zone 7?
Yes, with the right timing and variety choice. Nasturtiums are tender and need 50–60 days to maturity, so choose a variety that fits the Zone 7 season.
How far apart should I space nasturtiums in Zone 7?
Space plants 8–12 inches apart, in full sun and soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Crowding slows growth and invites disease, which matters more in a season with limited frost-free days.
What pests affect nasturtiums in Zone 7?
The most common are aphids, slugs, cutworms. Inspect leaves regularly and act early; healthy, well-spaced plants resist pests better than stressed ones.
How do I know when nasturtiums are ready to harvest?
Allow 50–60 days to maturity from sowing or transplanting, and harvest at the stage for your variety. Pick in the morning when plants are cool, and harvest everything usable before the first autumn frost, which averages Nov 1–15 in Zone 7.