Meghan Markle Netflix Show: Nasturtiums had a starring role in With Love, Meghan. Here’s what you need to know about the edible flower

If you’re not a gardener, you may not have heard of nasturtiums until Meghan Markle used the flower in an episode of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.

The Duchess of Sussex used the blooms to decorate slices of bread spread with cream cheese in episode two Welcome to the Party, which was all about hosting a garden party for kids.

Nasturtiums aren’t just an edible flower to Meghan, they’re part of a core memory from her childhood where her love of gardening first began.

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“I learned about them when I went to Hollywood Schoolhouse and I had my science class, we spent a lot of time in the garden and I learned from Mr Benn [my teacher],” she said.

But nasturtiums are so much more than just edible flowers, stems and seed pods – they are a versatile addition to the garden whether you’re a vegie gardener or just want a pop of colour.

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Available in both trailing and climbing varieties, nasturtiums typically come in red, yellow, orange and cream colours.

The sprawling nature of the plant means you can easily get a cottage garden vibe by planting them on fences, structures and furniture that have seen better days.

They grow best in full sun to part shade and love poor soil so they are ridiculously easy to grow, making them perfect for beginners.

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You don’t even need to worry about fertiliser as this really only boosts the leaf growth and ends up producing less flowers.

The only thing you’ll have to keep in mind is that you need to water seeds and seedlings regularly. But once the plants are established they’ll really only need water every now and then.

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Nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed and doing so will give you a lot more options for colours and varieties. Try specialist Australian seed stores online for interesting types with features like double blooms.

Sow seeds in late winter and spring in cooler areas of Australia. Those in tropical and sub-tropical areas will have to wait until spring to start.

If seeds aren’t your thing, seedlings and more established plants are available at hardware stores and garden centres for as little as $5 in some shops.

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Nasturtiums bloom during summer and autumn making the plant perfect for adding a special touch – à la Meghan – to dishes like salads served during the warmer months.

But nasturtiums have an even greater purpose in the garden over spring, summer and autumn as a companion plant and trap crop.

The flowering plant is often used by gardeners as a way to keep pests away from other flowers, vegetables and fruits they’re growing.

This is because nasturtiums are preferred by aphids to other plants. They also tend to attract cabbage white butterflies, which lay eggs that turn into caterpillars that voraciously eat your leaves and flowers.

So if you’re growing produce to eat and flowers to use in bouquets plant nasturtiums near them so pests will eat that plant instead of your food and blooms.

Nasturtiums not only attract the bad insects, they also attract beneficial ones needed for pollination so that is hugely important too.

And they’re great to plant alongside tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and many others as they are known to boost flavour and growth. They’ll also cover the soil to keep it cool in the hot sun.

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The one plant family nasturtiums shouldn’t be planted near is the brassica family of cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and kale because it may lure the cabbage white butterfly to its favourite food.

If you just like the look of nasturtiums they can be planted in garden beds, pots, hanging baskets and on fences for a pop of colour and a less formal but still stunning garden.

But whether you’re gardening or cooking, this flower is a must-have so try it next time you’re at the garden centre or nursery.

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