Mature size & growth rate

How big does Nasturtium 'Alaska' (Tropaeolum majus 'Alaska') get?

Also called Variegated nasturtium.

More about nasturtium 'alaska'

About Nasturtium 'Alaska'

Tropaeolum majus 'Alaska' · also called Variegated nasturtium · edible

'Alaska' is a compact, bushy nasturtium grown for its cream-and-green marbled, variegated foliage as much as its bright red, orange and yellow flowers. Leaves and flowers are edible and peppery. A quick hardy annual, it flowers best on poor soil in full sun, suits pots and edges, and self-seeds freely after frost-free sowing.

Mature size: About 25-30 cm tall and 30-40 cm wide.

Watch for — Fading variegation: Heavy shade or very vigorous growth can dilute the leaf marbling. Grow in full sun and lean soil to keep the variegation crisp.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Nasturtium 'Alaska' reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back. Indoors and in a pot, expect about 25-30 cm tall and 30-40 cm wide.. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Growth rate and years to mature

Nasturtium 'Alaska' is a fast grower. Realistically, expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Its feeding profile backs this up: do not feed to boost flowers. use at most a single weak balanced feed on very poor soil; nitrogen-rich fertiliser produces abundant leaves and few flowers.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the nasturtium 'alaska' repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast nasturtium 'alaska' grows.

How to keep nasturtium 'alaska' smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For nasturtium 'alaska' specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of nasturtium 'alaska' from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual.
Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets.
For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier.
Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How to grow nasturtium 'alaska' bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for nasturtium 'alaska' the accelerators are:

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest.
Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up.
Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The nasturtium 'alaska' light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When nasturtium 'alaska' outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for nasturtium 'alaska':

It sprawls beyond its bed or container before harvest — usually a spacing or support issue.
It flops or needs staking once it hits full height.
Once it has fruited or bolted, it is at its final size for good — the next plant is a new sowing.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the nasturtium 'alaska' repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the nasturtium 'alaska' propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Nasturtium 'Alaska' size — frequently asked questions

How big does nasturtium 'alaska' get?

Nasturtium 'Alaska' reaches about 25-30 cm tall and 30-40 cm wide. when grown indoors. It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Is nasturtium 'alaska' slow or fast growing?

Nasturtium 'Alaska' is a fast grower. Expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Nasturtium 'Alaska' reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back.

How long does nasturtium 'alaska' take to reach full size?

Roughly a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep nasturtium 'alaska' smaller?

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of nasturtium 'alaska' from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual. Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets. For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier. Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How can I make nasturtium 'alaska' grow bigger or faster?

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest. Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up. Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.