05-12-2014, 12:55 PM
Nasturtiums are also used as ground cover around fruit trees and even are 'trained' to grow up the trunks of some trees like apples they are beneficials that help repel pests like insects. Also keep in mind that these can be vectors or hosts for some plant related diseases for instance Ralstonia solanaceraum is often carried in nasturtiums. Ralstonia s. is responsible for the widespread ginger blight/wilt that plagues ginger farmers and is the reason why you see 'young' ginger in the store. If a farmer sees an infection he cuts his crop and harvests the rhizomes early before they are lost - hence the early or 'young' ginger. Unfortunately there is no known cure or remedy for Ralstonia s. and we currently breed for resistance as a result. I digress, the above considered, you may find a more suitable ground cover though nasturtiums are certainly pretty.