Growing· 5–10 days
Cress
Lepidium sativum
Garden cress, not watercress. The sandwich green. Surface-sow and snip.
How to sow
Sow surface, no compost cover. Use peat-free coco. Keep the surface just moist.
Germination 1–3 days in the crop record.
Growing
- Sowing — Day 0. Scatter on moist compost. Press. Do not bury.
- Germination — Days 1–3. A lid for 24 hours is optional; uncover as soon as it greens.
- Harvest — Days 5–10. Cut at compost level. Use the same day. Reseed the tray.
Keep at or above 12°C where the crop record sets a floor.
Harvest
First cut around 5–10 days.
Cut at compost level. Use the same day. Reseed the tray.
Common mistakes
- Burying the seed — Garden cress is a light-germinator. Compost on top slows or stops it. Surface sow. Press. Mist.
- Confusing it with watercress — Nasturtium officinale is a different plant and wants running water. This pack is garden cress. Grow it as a microgreen.
- Waiting for a garden plant — Left past two weeks it goes coarse and hot. Cut at 5–10 days. Sow again.
In the kitchen
- Egg and cress — Chop cress into egg mayonnaise. White bread, butter.
- Mustard and cress — Pair with white mustard micros on buttered bread.
- Soup finish — Scatter on a hot bowl of tomato or potato soup.
- Cheese — Pile onto a cheddar sandwich or a ploughman's plate.
- Soft egg — Dip toast soldiers, then cress, into a boiled egg.
Questions
How long to grow cress from seed?
First cut around 5–10 days.
How do I sow cress?
surface, no compost cover. Use peat-free medium. Keep the surface just moist.
How do I harvest cress?
Cut at compost level. Use the same day. Reseed the tray.