A couple of the beds on the allotment that have been harvested of things like onions and potatoes are now covered in nasturtiums. They are beautiful, although they’re beginning to look a bit battered now in the recent windy weather. They self seed freely so I leave them to grow more or less anywhere because they are pretty, useful and soften the edges of my raised beds - if they start crowding things out, I pull them up.
The leaves and flowers are both edible and bring a peppery watercress flavour to salads as well as looking beautiful. The green seeds are also edible, making a perky addition to stir fries and sauces or can be pickled in brine for a slightly milder kick. There were bees swarming all over these today, grateful for the late nectar.
