Moreover, you don’t need to concern much about fertilizer. Find a source for a transplant of watercress. This plant loves to grow in neutral soil, i.e. Fill it with a mix of soil and compost of about 8 cm high. They do enjoy regular waterings; in fact, you can give them more than most garden plants. Water is very important in growing this vegetable. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the tray. But don’t fret. Its size must be about 30 cm deep and 30 cm in diameter. It scientifically named as Nasturtium officinale. To plant this vegetable hydroponically, you can follow these steps. One of them is that they think it is difficult to grow this vegetable since it is an aquatic plant. Naturally, watercress grows in shallow running water, such as a small stream and an outside fish pond. Begin by choosing a garden space that is in a full sun space. If you have too much watercress leaves to cook, you can store them in the fridge. People love to add this vegetable in a salad. Prepare a Styrofoam sheet, rock wool cubes, a bin, air stone, air hose, and an air pump. The seeds take a few days to germinate. Because of the scattering process, you will use when planting your watercress seeds, and due to the fact that you need very moist soil, it can be hard to create the appropriate indoor growing conditions. As the weather turns cool, your watercress will be ready to harvest. Create holes in the Styrofoam with a size that fits the size of the rock wool cubes. If you have considered growing watercress, there are a few things you should know. The watercress foliage can be used in salads, on sandwiches, in sauces, soup, and more! If you're planting seeds, sow them in early spring, about three weeks before the last frost date. They have four petals. Let’s bring the watercress plant back. You will see signs of life in just 5-6 days! This plant can adapt to various soil types. It can be planted in USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9. They taste delicious. However, you can actually grow this vegetable at home as long as you have the right condition to grow it. of 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer, and 1 tsp. Therefore, you need to have the right soil when you are in the process of how to grow watercress. Step 5. Fill it with water of about 3 cm high. Planting Watercress: You can grow watercress from transplants, seeds, or cuttings. If you choose the former, you must mix a gallon of water with 2 tsp. All threat of frost should have past. Wet a paper towel and spread the watercress seeds across it. Many ancient civilizations, such as Greeks, Persians, and Romans grew this vegetable as food and as medicine. Change the water every day or every two days. DO NOT wait until the plant blossoms as it will be too late to harvest and the plant will taste bitter. These are what you need to do in germinating the seeds indoors. Watercress grows best in cool but sunny spots. Your email address will not be published. One of the tips of how to grow watercress is that you must make sure that you keep the soil extra moist. It is pretty easy to grow watercress in a container. After the pollination occurs, they will produce seeds. Outdoor watercress crops should be sown directly into the pot you wish to grown them during March or April - once average day temperatures reach 8-15°C it will be warm enough to encourage germination within 14 days. However, it is usually viewed as a minor crop. Hang the light about 10 cm from the plant. Place this hydroponic system in an area where it gets several hours of sunlight a day. There are several methods of how to grow watercress that you can do. Remove all the leaves on the stem, except the top 2 leaves. Read our. After that, you need to light the watercress using a grow light. Therefore, you have a chance to enjoy this delicious vegetable even though you live in this cooler region. Transplant the cutting when its roots are long and strong enough. Choose a sunny spot and amend the soil with 4-6 inches of composted organic matter or a good quality potting mix. It can even grow in a soilless medium. Watercress also worked its way into dainty tea sandwiches, as women loved the fresh flavor and distinct crunch the leafy green offered. The seeds usually will grow into seedlings in about 5 days. Watercress was a staple in most depression era gardens. Regular harvest or pruning will boost the growth of new shoots. The stems of this plant is hollow. Perform a soil test on this potting mix so that you can be sure that its pH level is between 6.5 and 7.5. Direct garden planting is what we will cover below. Choose a sunny spot and amend the soil with 4-6 inches of composted organic matter or a good quality potting mix. Step 1. If you're planting seeds, sow them in early spring, about three weeks before the last frost date. How to Grow Watercress – Watercress is an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant which leaves tastes and smells delicious. The key for a successful watercress harvest is water. Growing watercress indoors. I say it is time for watercress to make a comeback! You can lightly cover them and keep the soil moist (but not swamped) until the seeds start to sprout. 2. It all depends on the method of planting. Keep your soil moist, but not covered in water. The key to doing it is providing enough water for the plant to grow. Prepare a plastic container with enough drainage holes. It was the Romans who gave the name ‘nasturtium’ to this vegetable. At that time, this vegetable was very popular. Watercress can be grown from seed, transplants or cuttings. But, it remains nutritious as ever because it is rich in vitamin K and C. Watercress is also known as cress. You can lightly cover them and keep the soil moist (but not swamped) until the seeds start to sprout. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less. However, they require pollinators for it. Therefore, it will not be affected by diseases easily. Create a furrow in your garden. Moreover, it is recommended to harvest watercress leaves before the plant is flowering. Place this hydroponic system in an area where it gets several hours of sunlight a day; The seeds will germinate in a week or less. Both of them is fun to do. of composted organic matter down to a depth of 6-8 inches (15-20 cm. Cover the planter with plastic and place the container in a tray or a bucket filled with water. They are self-fertile so that they don’t require other plants to pollinate. This leafy vegetable is a member of Brassicaceae family. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. They will help the plant to stay afloat in the water. Connect the air stone with the air hose and the air pump. Watercress may start to turn white, brown, or yellow if it is experiencing a nutrient deficiency. After that, you can sow the seeds. Growing watercress is very easy. Watercress can even be grown in a container on your kitchen table. Fill in a jar with water of about 3 cm high. Be ready, because this happens fast!