Nasturtium

My nasturtiums are blooming! 

Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, add deep reds and golds  to your container garden and a peppery flavor to your meals.

 The flavor is often compared to watercress. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible and both have the same spicy taste. Try them in salads, on sandwiches or anywhere you would use watercress or radishes.
Nasturtiums are super easy to grow.  Plant them directly in outside containers or in the ground after the last frost and you'll have blooms when temperatures are still as low as 55 degrees F.  Cool weather annuals, nasturtiums die when temperatures climb over 80 degrees F.  Nasturtiums will grow in full sun or partial shade. I move mine to our shady patio when temperatures start to climb and have managed to keep them blooming well into summer.
Like most herbs, Nasturtium is not picky about soil. I transplanted this one into organic potting soil and watered it lightly once a week.
Nasturtium come in a variety of color variations. I'm partial to the single-colored jewel tones. Alaska variegated add jazz to container gardens, though they seem to be a little more heat sensitive than other varieties I have grown. In hanging planters, try vining varieties. The dwarf jewel mix comes in lovely peach and creamy shades.

Growing and Cooking with Thai Basil

Grow Thai Basil for use in Asian dishes and for its striking beauty and highly aromatic scent in the garden.

Thai basil grows 2 feet to 3 feet tall on upright purple stems. It's olive green, soft leaves contrast nicely with its purple flower spikes.

Grow Thai basil in full sun and in well-draining soil. If growing in containers, select a pot that is at least 12 inches deep. upright, well-branched plant with flavor and fragrance distinctly different from other basils. Excellent for Asian cuisine; highly decorative with purple stems and flowers.

Plant Thai basil seeds directly into the ground or container after danger of spring frosts has passed. Cover seeds with 1/4 inch of moist soil. Do not allow soil to dry out during germination. Seeds germinate in about one week.

Once seedlings are bushy, apply 2 inches to 3 inches of mulch around plants to help retain moisture.

After the plants are well established, they only require water about once weekly. Its important not to over-water basil. It responds well to a once weekly, thorough watering. Plants grown in containers will dry out faster than those in garden beds, and will have to be watered more frequently.

Basil does not usually require fertilizer. If leaves yellow or the plants appear stunted, fertilize with diluted fish emulsion. Too much nitrogen will reduce Thai Basil's scent and flavor.

Harvest Thai Basil by snipping the fresh young leaves as they are needed. Though they lose their flavor quickly, Thai Basil leaves can be dried and stored in a dark, cool space. You can also freeze the leaves. Some people place the leaves in ice cube trays with water and add these to soups and stews. I like to freeze them on a paper towel in freezer zip-loc bags.

Thai basil will die at the first hint of frost. Extend the season for a short while by bringing the plant indoors before the first cold spell.

Cooking with Thai Basil

The leaves and flowers of Thai Basil add a hint of licorice to Asian curries and stir-fries.

Try this recipe for Spicy Basil Chicken  from Thai Food and Travel