Nasturtiums - help me help them!

[RedMapleLeaf]

My first year growing nasturtiums (from seed, now in pots). My problems are:

• they are very leggy. Is it too late to rectify this?
  
• they are being gobbled by caterpillars (and they give me the collywobbles).
  

Also, I've thrown the seed packet away. I'm guessing nasturtiums are annuals?

[Hastalapasta]

They are annuals, give them some canes to climb up. Catepillars? What type? Pictures please evict gently. Sign of a healthy garden though....

[JapanNextYear]

Nasturtiums are annuals but are likely to self seed happily so new ones are likely to come up.

Mine haven't really got into their stride yet (North West) but I'm fully expecting that in the next week I'll have non leggy nasturtiums that will look great.

If the pot is too small then that might be causing them a problem. They can grow quite large (unless they are miniature ones) so that might make them struggle.

[RedMapleLeaf]

Catepillars? What type?

They're like hairy and creepy and caterpillar-shaped... er, they have a smirk on their face and full tummies.

Ok, Google suggests "Small Tortoiseshell". Only these are big.

[RedMapleLeaf]

Japan, they're in small pots so what I might do is give up on these this Autumn and try again next Spring. I guess I could have done something to the seedlings to prevent legginess?

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Mine got all eaten up last year.
Caterpillars, black fly, it was a disaster.
They year before they did great.

[JapanNextYear]

I'd just repot them in bigger pots or put them in the ground if you have room. I don't think there's much you can do to stop legginess except make sure they have room to grow and when you started them off in pots they had enough light.

[JT05]

Mine are not doing brilliantly yet, this year. They usually grow like Triffids. Plant them in the ground and let them get on with it, sometimes they take off in July and August, when it gets a bit warmer! (I hope ).

[RedMapleLeaf]

Thanks for your advice everyone. They are looking a lot better a week later, lots of blooms. Not the same can be said for the geraniums I also planted.

I realise now that my pots are too small. When growing from seed, how many times do you re-pot?!

[JT05]

With Nasturtium seeds, I usually put two seeds in a little plug or small pot, then when they have 4 or more leaves and the frost is over I plant them out. Either in the ground, or at the base of bigger plants in large pots, or in a very large 'strawberry pot' that I have for Nasturtiums.
Mine are just beginning to flower.

[RedMapleLeaf]

Ok, that sounds very reasonable. I am happy to do two transfers - seed trays/pots then small pots and then large pot/ground.

[plipplops]

I chucked some nasturtium seeds at the garden about 5 years ago, now they come back every year so think they're just happy there. Some years caterpillars have been a problem, last year I spotted loads of cabbage whites laying eggs so started checking under the leaves regularly and removed any eggs (I only have a v small garden!). It's really satisfying as you know every little pile of eggs you find and remove is 50 caterpillars that aren't going to eat everything . I've only seen one butterfly so far this year and not found any eggs but I'm on regular hunts...

[JT05]

They are just beginning to bud and flower now. Hope yours are now, as well.