Watercress

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic/semi-aquatic plant that is native to Eurasia. It is grown as a spicy green and is used raw or cooked. It is easily propagated from seed or cuttings and is a good choice for perpetually wet areas otherwise unsuited for growing more usual vegetable crops.

Culture
Watercress can either be grown as a green indoors, or grown in running water environments as it does in the wild. Either is fine as long as the high moisture requirement is maintained. Pots or trays may be seeded directly on the surface or stuck with cuttings. Best media is general purpose compost rich in OM. Keep pots/trays covered with plastic or glass during germination. The pots should then be placed in a few inches standing water in order to keep them constantly wet. This water should be changed every few days.

Outdoor areas such as a stream or seep to allow larger colonies to form. These may also be started from seed or transplants. Seeds should be sown in shallow drills (trenches), and lightly covered in soil (~1/4") if possible (unless site is rocky). Keep weeded.

Harvesting is done by trimming off the tender top growth with a knife or scissors. Axillary shoots will develop and can be harvested once regrown.

All seed is derived from wild-type.


 * Days to Germination: 8-12


 * Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkali


 * Full Sun


 * Spacing: ~1/2-1" pots/flats, larger for outdoor


 * Sow after last frost, succesionally if needed til autumn


 * Remove flowers and seed capsules to encourage foliar growth and reduce bitterness


 * Not perennial in our climate


 * Very moist soil to aquatic conditions, prefers high OM