Question: Nasturtiums are one of my favorite flowers to grow. This year, I'd like to try growing a few of the climbing types. Are they easy to grow from seed or will I need to buy transplants somewhere? Answer: Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) are a favorite of many gardeners. Their glossy round leaves, coupled with their cheery blooms make them garden standouts. Not to mention that the blooms are edible and offer a peppery bite to salads. And, as an added bonus, butterflies and hummingbirds find their nectar quite enticing. Nasturtiums of all types are easy to start from seed. If you want earlier blooms, sow the seeds indoors under grow lights in mid-April. Use plantable peat pots to start the seeds or be very careful to not disturb the roots when transplanting the seedlings out into the garden in mid- to late May. Nasturtiums do not like to have their roots disturbed. But, if you're willing to wait a few weeks longer for flowers, sow nasturtium seeds directly into the garden in mid-May, just after the danger of frost has passed. This is how I grow all my nasturtiums because it's so much easier than having to start them indoors. I also find they perform better when grown this way. The plants don't suffer from transplant shock and they grow very quickly. There are many different types of nasturtiums. Some are bush-type and have a growth habit that's rounded and compact, while others are trailing. Trailing varieties grow long vines that ramble around the garden and grow up to 10 feet in length. Trailing varieties can be easily trained to grow up a trellis and they do wonderfully. But if you want to try your hand at growing true climbing nasturtiums, look for one of my favorite species: Tropaeolum peregrinum, the canary creeper vine. This is a really cool plant with serrated leaves and yellow, fringed flowers. It looks enough like the traditional nasturtium you're already familiar with that you'll recognize it as a nasturtium, but different enough that it will have the neighbors asking you about the unusual plant climbing up over your trellis. Canary creeper vine grows up to 12 feet tall and easily rambles and climbs up a trellis, arbor or pergola. They are easy to grow from seed planted directly into the garden, and seeds are available from many seed catalogs and online retailers. Also ask your local nursery if they have seeds available for this great plant. A very fast grower, canary creeper seeds can easily be collected and saved from year to year so you'll always have them gracing your garden. Horticulturist Jessica Walliser is the author of several gardening books, including "Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden,” "Good Bug, Bad Bug,” and her newest title, "Container Gardening Complete.” Her website is jessicawalliser.com. Send your gardening or landscaping questions to tribliving@tribweb.com or The Good Earth, 622 Cabin Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.