I planted some in the fall and they grew super fast, to get devastated by worms, but grew back like crazy and are blooming profusely and beautifully. Good point about drawing pests to the garden just to feed them - like agricultural misdirection? Ha. I'll be interested to hear what folks have to say about that?

They are also beneficial for other reasons - they're pretty (not to be underestimated imo), edible - both leaves and blossoms, and draw all kinds of good pollinators... All part of keeping a diverse buffet for a diverse insect population.

But I am new to gardening and await other (more experienced?) input on this question....

I did this very thing last year in my new little square foot garden. I planted them on 3 sides. I didn't plant them as a trap, just as an edible pretty. I didn't know they were bothered by pests; I guess they aren't here in the PNW! It worked out nicely, they did drape down. I gave them very little room, planting them close together and close to the edge, and planted veg maybe 2-3 inches in. Not every plant did well of course, and they weren't luscious and bushy, but they had plenty of blooms draping over the sides and were quite pretty. I'm going to do it again this year.

I've planted them for years, both as an aphid trap/sacrificial and as something interesting and edible. I put them close to but not IN the vegie garden, in various hanging pots and containers used for colour around the deck and front porch. I find they work quite well and are easy to grow.

If planted in rich soil & fed too much they grow leaves, but don't bloom as much. Leaves are edible & peppery tasting, but not overpowering if you use as accent in a salad.

Reminds me of those fly traps where they should come into some kind of liquid stuff and die in the trap. Without that trap, I didn't realize I had that many flies around my yard. But with that trap, I almost thought maybe it was attracting the flies into my yard in the first place.

I personally like the nasturtiums in my yard and garden for the reasons given above, so I guess you'll have to try it and see, since even in this one thread, there were many points about how it might negatively affect the area, but many good points about its positive effects also.

They are a good trap plant that is tough and rewards you with edible flowers for your salads (peppery taste). Go ahead and plant them on the front and let them drape over, very pretty and need very little care except for water. I plant them all over my sfg's.

Hmmm...I must be doing something wrong? I've never had an issue with them. ;-)