Harvest guide
When to harvest nasturtium 'empress of india'
How to harvest nasturtium 'empress of india'
Snip whole flower heads with scissors, leaving foliage behind. Handle lightly — bruised petals lose their aroma and discolour as they dry.
Storing your harvest
Dry on a rack or in loose bunches somewhere warm, dark and airy, then store in an airtight jar out of the light. Sunlight bleaches both colour and scent.
The mistake to avoid
Picking wet, or in the afternoon heat. Damp flowers go mouldy as they dry, and midday picking loses much of the aroma.
More nasturtium 'empress of india' care
Harvesting nasturtium 'empress of india' — FAQ
When is nasturtium 'empress of india' ready to harvest?
Just fully open, on a dry morning after the dew has lifted but before midday heat. Nasturtium 'Empress of India' is harvested for its flowers, and timing within the day matters as much as the season. Pick when blooms have just fully opened — that is when the aromatic oils are at their strongest. Regular picking also keeps the plant producing, since it stops it setting seed.
How do you harvest nasturtium 'empress of india'?
Snip whole flower heads with scissors, leaving foliage behind. Handle lightly — bruised petals lose their aroma and discolour as they dry.
How do you store nasturtium 'empress of india' after harvesting?
Dry on a rack or in loose bunches somewhere warm, dark and airy, then store in an airtight jar out of the light. Sunlight bleaches both colour and scent.
What is the most common nasturtium 'empress of india' harvesting mistake?
Picking wet, or in the afternoon heat. Damp flowers go mouldy as they dry, and midday picking loses much of the aroma.