Our speciality

Alaska

A low cost way to get excellent colour impact.

Alaska is a compact semi-trailing strain with variegated leaves and single flowers. We offer packets of Alaska Gold, Alaska Scarlet and Alaska mixed seeds. This variety is a bedding rather than a climbing plant, with greater colour impact than other strains, The contrasting variegated marbled foliage gives added interest.

Dwarf varieties such as Alaska can be planted separately in the border, in mixed beds or in containers They can provide rapid cover for unsightly areas.

Plant height 30cm, plant spread 30cm

We offer 50 seeds per packet for our normal 95 pence.

Propagation

Can be direct sown in flower beds, or started in greenhouses. For direct sowing, seed should be sown into the open ground, 12 to 20 inches apart at the beginning of May or after the last frosts. Earlier flowering may be attained by starting the plants in pots in a frame or greenhouse. They should not be planted out in the garden until the risk of frost is over.

Background

A genus of around 87 species, most of which are perennial climbers with tuberous roots. The name comes from the Greek word for trophy, since the leaves are of shield-like appearance whilst the flowers resemble a helmet. In ancient times, both of these items were thought of as battle trophies. The common name is Nasturtium.

Native of Mexico to South America, they have long enjoyed popularity as easy to grow, highly ornamental colourful plants, brightening up any corner of the garden. They flourish in poor soils. In rich soils, plants can make too much leafy growth. Black fly (aphid) and cabbage white caterpillars can be a problem.

Tropaeolum majus is the garden Nasturtium. Many garden forms are listed under the name even though most are hybrids of several species. A vigorous plant with flowers in a wide colour range.

Plants thrive in any garden soil and in a warm, sunny position. It flowers very well in a poor stony soil; rich soil promotes lush leaf growth which can hide the flowers.

Flowering period from June until first frost.

Variegation. In the great majority of cases, the leaf variegation is due to virus infection or an absence of chlorophyll in the cytoplasm. However, in the case of Tropaeolum Alaska, forms with variegated leaves are inherited as a simple recessive character, green leaf being completely dominant.

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