The simplest method of control is a sharp stream of water to knock the wee buggers off the plants. Sometimes people will do this and then say the Aphids have "returned" (they don't) when a new generation has appeareed that also needs to be knocked off the same way.

I saved nasturtium seeds of mixed colors, the seeds produced mixed colors, mostly yellows and oranges. I like the red ones too, so this year I will plant Empress of India, which is really more of an orange-ish red, but still pretty and very bright and eye catching. I'm going to save the seed from them too, just to see what I get. Nasturtium seed does come in a lot of beautiful colors now - peach, soft yellow, coral, bright pink but you'll need to buy the seeds to get those colors, I've never had them reseed into anything but oranges and yellows, but its worth a try to save the seeds just to see what they look like.

Yes, it was one of the varieties I started last season. But I was very late in the season getting them started in a mixed variety container and none produced any flowers until well into late fall!! I never saw any flowers with the fringed ends of Phoenix so maybe they have a much lower germination rate than others?? Or prefer much hotter weather than October in the PNW offers. Will try again this season, starting them as soon as it warms up a scosh. And I might start each variety out separately as well, rather than a mixed bag :-) And although they look rather pathetic and bedraggled at this time of year, I still have some nasturtiums pushing flowers as we speak!! Who'da thunk??

I plant nasts all over. All parts of the plant are tasty and it's pretty. The ones out in the poorer parts of the garden do well, and so do the ones in my containers. Including hanging baskets. I could keep 4-5 nasts trailing out and something in the middle- usualy something taller like chives or basil. Sometimes other flowers. Can't say I've had a huge difference in foliage or flowering between out in the gardens or in the baskets. I am not always awesome at keeping up with watering baskets as they should, so that always hurts all the plants. But when I keep them watered right they are lovely cascading out of a basket. Or raised bed :) With the kinds you have they are a bit tall for just center- they will prone over a bit as they mature. So around the outside. But they will just prone over, they won't cascade. So if you want someting to cascade too, I'd limit the nasts to 3, maybe 4 if you don't do a center and then the alternate spots with your cascade plants. If you want just nasts, I think you could do 4-5 since you will still get some upright with those. Maybe 5 with 1 in the middle if you are pretty serious about tending your baskets. Mohogany makes a very dramatic pesto and a pretty vinegar if you use just the flowers. The leaves of both go gorgeous with fennel greens and basil or cilantro to make pesto. The seeds young of both kinds are good as capers, too.