Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Indian cress, monk's cress, garden nasturtium.

About Nasturtium

Tropaeolum majus · also called Indian cress, monk's cress · flowering

Nasturtiums are easy quick-growing annuals with circular leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in red, orange, and yellow. Bush and trailing types available. Leaves, flowers, and seeds are edible with peppery flavour. Pet-safe and edible.

Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a fast, trailing or climbing tender annual from the Andes of South America; both flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery, watercress-like taste.

Often planted as a companion or trap crop near brassicas, squash and pumpkin; it readily draws aphids and cabbageworm caterpillars away from the main crop.

Cold limit: USDA Grown as an annual in zones 2-11 · RHS H2 (15-26°C)

Watch for — Frost damage: Tender; cut back at first frost.

Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, rhs.org.uk, extension.umn.edu

What nasturtium's hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for nasturtium: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA Grown as an annual in zones 2-11 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for nasturtium as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can nasturtium go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when nasturtium can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline nasturtium

Nasturtium is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

Nasturtium hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is nasturtium cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for nasturtium: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. Nasturtium is grown Grown as an annual in zones 2-11; you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature nasturtium can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is nasturtium?

Nasturtium is rated USDA Grown as an annual in zones 2-11 and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can nasturtium survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect nasturtium from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.