Bulbous nasturtium

What is tuberous nasturtium?

The tuberous nasturtium (Tropaeolum tuberosum) belongs to the cruciferous family and originates from the Andes in South America. It has been cultivated and used as food there for centuries. The plant forms climbing shoots with round leaves and bright orange or yellow flowers. The flowers are edible and have a pungent taste. However, the real special feature of the tuberous nasturtium is its underground tubers, which look like small potatoes and can also be eaten.

The tubers have a sweet taste with a slight pungency and contain many valuable ingredients such as vitamin C, iron, potassium and mustard oil glycosides. These have an antibacterial, antiviral and immune-boosting effect. The tubers can be eaten raw or cooked or processed into flour.

How can you give your dog bulbous nasturtium?

If you want to add some variety to your dog's diet or help him with certain ailments, you can give him bulbous nasturtium. You can offer him either the fresh or dried flowers or the fresh or cooked bulbs.

You can, for example, sprinklethe flowers over the food as decoration or give them as a treat between meals. They have a pungent taste that many dogs like. The flowers can help with colds, coughs or respiratory infections.

You can cut the tubers into small pieces, either raw or cooked, and mix them into their food or offer them as a snack. They have a sweet taste with a slight spiciness. The tubers can strengthen the immune system, aid digestion and help with skin problems.

What are the benefits of bulbous nasturtium for dogs?

Bulbous nasturtium has many benefits for dogs:

• It is rich in vitamin C, which is important for the immune system.
• It contains mustard oil glycosides, which have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.
• It can help with respiratory diseases.
• Itpromotes digestion thanks to its fiber.
• Ithelps with skin problems thanks to its wound-healing properties.
• It offers variety in the diet thanks to its exotic taste.

What are the disadvantages of bulbous nasturtium for dogs?

Bulbous nasturtium also has some disadvantages for dogs:

• It can cause gastrointestinal discomfort in sensitive dogs due to its pungency.
• It can trigger allergic reactions in dogs with an intolerance to mustard oil glycosides.
• Itcan increase the effect of blood-thinning medication due to its anticoagulant effect.
• It can influence thyroid function due to its iodine content.

How much bulbous nasturtium should you give your dog?

As with all new ingredients, you should only introduce bulbous nasturtium to your dog in small quantities and gradually. Observe how he reacts to it and whether he likes it at all. If you don't notice any negative effects, you can slowly increase the amount.

There is no general recommendation for the dosage of bulbous nasturtium, as it depends on various factors such as your dog's weight, age and state of health. However, you can use the following as a guide:

• For small dogs (up to 10 kg), a few flowers or a teaspoon of tubers per day is sufficient.
• For medium-sized dogs (10 to 25 kg), you can give two to three flowers or a tablespoon of tubers per day.
• For large dogs (over 25 kg), four to five flowers or two tablespoons of tubers per day are appropriate.

However, you should not allow bulbous nasturtium to make up more than 10% of the daily food ration. You should also always make sure that your dog drinks enough water to avoid possible irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Where can you buy bulbous nasturtium?

Bulbous nasturtium is still relatively unknown in Germany and therefore not as easy to obtain as other herbs or vegetables. However, you have various options for obtaining this exotic ingredient:

• You can order it online from specialized suppliers.
• You can grow it yourself in your garden or on your balcony. All you need are a few tubers of the plant. Planting time is in spring and harvest time in fall. The plant needs a sunny location and slightly acidic soil.
• You can look for it on the market or in the health food store, where it is sometimes sold under the name Mashua. This is the name of the plant in its native Peru.