Nasturtium Salmon Baby produces fully double, salmon-pink flowers with softly ruffled petals. The warm blooms rise above large, rounded dark-green leaves, creating a rich contrast. Its compact growth looks attractive in pots, window boxes and along the front of flower beds.
Garden Nasturtium is native to South America and grows best during cool to mild weather. Salmon Baby is a dwarf variety that stays low while spreading gently around its base. In Pakistan, it provides its best display through winter and spring before intense summer heat arrives.
Why Grow It
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Double Flowers: Layers of ruffled petals give the blooms a full appearance.
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Salmon Colour: Warm salmon-pink flowers stand out against dark foliage.
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Compact Growth: Short plants suit containers, borders and smaller spaces.
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Long Display: New buds continue developing while faded flowers are removed.
Best Conditions
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Germination: Usually 7–21 days
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Temperature: Around 15–20°C
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Sunlight: At least 5–6 hours
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Pot size: 8–12-inch-wide pot or larger
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Spacing: About 8–12 inches between plants
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Plant height: Usually around 10–12 inches
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Spread: Approximately 12–18 inches
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Soil: Light, moderately fertile and well-draining mix
In Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, sow from September to November, or again from late January to February. In hotter areas such as Karachi and southern Punjab, sow from October to January after the strongest summer heat has eased. In colder northern and hilly areas, sow from March to April after the risk of hard frost has passed.
How to Sow
Nasturtium is easiest to sow directly in its final pot or flower bed.
- Soak the seeds in room-temperature water for 8–12 hours.
- Fill the final container with moist and well-draining potting mix.
- Make holes around ½ inch deep and 8–12 inches apart.
- Sow one or two seeds in each hole and cover them lightly.
- Water gently and remove the weaker seedling if both seeds grow.
Plant Care
Water when the upper layer of soil begins to dry. Keep young plants evenly moist while their roots establish, but avoid permanently wet soil. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering as spring becomes warmer.
Mix only a small amount of Vermicompost into the soil before sowing. Rich soil and heavy feeding can encourage excessive leaves with fewer flowers. If aphids gather under the leaves or around new growth, apply Neem Oil, avoiding open flowers.
Local Gardener Tips
- Sow in the final container to avoid disturbing young roots.
- Give plants full winter sun and light afternoon shade during warm spring weather.
- Protect emerging seedlings from snails, birds and strong watering.
- Rotate containers occasionally to maintain even, compact growth.
Flowering
Plants usually begin flowering around 8–11 weeks after sowing. The double blooms develop above the foliage and continue opening while conditions remain cool to mild.
Remove faded flowers before seedpods form to direct the plant’s energy toward new buds. Leave a few healthy flowers untouched if you want to collect mature seeds later.
FAQs
Why are some Salmon Baby flowers becoming paler?
The petals may soften from rich salmon to a lighter pastel shade as each flower ages, especially in strong sunlight. This is a natural colour change rather than a plant health problem.
Can Salmon Baby grow in a hanging basket?
Yes. It forms a compact mound with gentle spreading growth, making it suitable for hanging baskets. However, it will not form the long cascading stems produced by trailing Nasturtium varieties.
Common names: Nasturtium Salmon Baby, Salmon Baby Nasturtium, Dwarf Double Nasturtium, Garden Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus 'Salmon Baby'
