Cress Curled is a delightful herb with finely textured, peppery leaves that bring bold flavor to sandwiches, salads, and garnishes. This hardy perennial thrives in garden beds or containers, growing quickly to provide a continuous harvest of fresh greens. Its spicy kick makes it a fantastic addition to any culinary garden.
Cress Growing Guide
Outdoor Sowing (Directly in the Garden)
- Timing: Sow cress seeds outdoors in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late summer for a fall harvest. Cress thrives in cool weather and tolerates light frost.
- Location: Choose a sunny spot or partial shade in hotter climates. Cress grows best in fertile, well-draining soil but can tolerate moist conditions.
- Soil Preparation: Loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches and incorporate compost to improve fertility. Cress prefers soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5.
- Planting Seeds:
- Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and space them 1-2 inches apart in rows or broadcast them over the soil surface.
- Thin seedlings to maintain proper spacing of 4-6 inches as they grow.
- Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate, which typically takes 5-7 days. Cress requires consistent moisture to maintain tender growth.
Indoor Sowing (Starting Seeds Indoors)
- Timing: Start cress seeds indoors at any time of year for a continuous harvest, as they grow quickly in controlled conditions.
- Containers: Use shallow trays or pots with good drainage, filled with a light, well-draining seed-starting mix.
- Planting:
- Sprinkle seeds over the soil surface and press them lightly to ensure contact. Do not cover with soil, as cress seeds need light to germinate.
- Mist the soil gently to keep it evenly moist.
- Germination:
- Maintain a temperature of 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination.
- Expect seedlings to emerge within 5-7 days.
- Transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors if desired when soil temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 4-6 inches apart in rows.
General Care Tips for Cress
- Sunlight: Provide full sun for best growth, though cress tolerates partial shade, especially in warmer climates.
- Watering: Water consistently to keep the soil evenly moist. Regular watering is essential to prevent cress from becoming tough or bitter.
- Fertilizing: Enrich the soil with compost before planting. Cress is a light feeder and typically does not require additional fertilization during its short growing season.
- Pruning: Regularly harvest leaves to encourage new growth and prevent bolting.
- Pest and Disease Control: Cress is generally pest- and disease-resistant. Proper spacing and watering help prevent fungal issues in humid conditions.
- Harvesting:
- For Leaves: Begin harvesting leaves when the plant is 2-4 inches tall, typically 10-14 days after sowing. Snip leaves or cut the entire plant at the base for a single harvest.
- For Continuous Harvest: Regularly snip leaves to encourage regrowth and delay bolting.
- Storage: Store fresh cress leaves in a plastic bag or damp paper towel in the refrigerator for up to a week. Wash leaves just before use.
