Garden Cress

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Garden Cress

Garden Cress is an easy plant to grow that prefers full sun or partial shade with moist soils.  To learn how to plant garden cress, click here.


VARIETIES: Wrinked, crinkled, crumpled, persian and curly are the garden cress varieties that can be found easily from your local nursery or seed catalogs.

CULTIVATION

Soil preparation: Incorporate organic matter and a all-purpose fertilizer to your garden to prepare for planting.  For more information on soil preparation, click here. 

Planting:

  • Garden cress is planted by seed. 
  •  To plant randomly scattering them or mass plant them in rows.
  •   Plant seeds ¼ - ½ inch deep.
  •   Rows should be 3-4 inches apart.
  •   Once seedlings emerge, thin plants to 8-12 inches apart. 
  •    Re-sow seeds every 2 weeks for continuous supply of fresh leaves. 

Irrigation: Keep the soil very moist by watering a few days a week.  To learn more about irrigation, click here.

Fertilization:  Water cress requires little fertilizer, due to the short growing time.  If planting in a container fertilize periodically.  To learn more about fertilization, click here.

Harvest: Begin harvesting 2-3 weeks after emergence when leaves are 2 inches long.

COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES: Weeds commonly affect the plants; continually cultivate your garden for best results.  No specific diseases or insects affect the plant.  To learn more about pests and diseases, click here.