Nasturtium officinale
watercress
Common names: true watercress
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Spacing
- 15 cm, rows 20 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Apr–Aug
- Harvest
- May–Oct
- Hardiness
- Cold damage below −5 °C
- Water need
- High
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Masparasol · CC BY 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Watercress is a wetland and water plant with a sharp, spicy, mustard-like aroma and a high vitamin C content. In nature it grows at springs and slowly flowing streams; in the garden it thrives only where the soil is permanently wet. The young shoots are a classic ingredient for soups and salads.
Care instructions
Plant watercress at the edge of a pond, in a constantly moist pit, or in a saucer with permanently standing water. Provide partial shade and fresh, clean water. Harvest the young shoot tips regularly, this keeps the plant compact; avoid stagnant, dirty water that causes the roots to rot.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–Aug
HarvestMay–Oct
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 10 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 7 to 14 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, moist, nutrient-rich, lime-loving
Watercress needs permanently moist to wet, humus-rich loamy soil that is high in nutrients. In its natural habitat it grows in flowing or still, lime-rich water. In the garden it does well at the edges of ponds and streams, in a mud bed or in a shallow water container; waterlogging is no problem, but drying out kills the plant. A pH around 7 (tolerates lime to loves lime) is ideal.
Brassicas are heavy feeders and prone to clubroot. Allow a 4-year break and do not follow directly on from other crucifers such as radishes or mustard.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–Apr
Watercress is undemanding and mostly draws its nutrients from the water. In spring, as it starts into growth, work a little mature compost shallowly around the plant. In a pot or water container you can give it a little help now and then during the growing season with diluted nettle feed, but go easy, because too much nitrogen promotes soft leaf growth at the expense of flavour.
Overwintering
Watercress is perennial and hardy. In an open bed or at the edge of a pond it stays in place over winter and reliably sprouts again in spring, often even staying green through winter. One thing matters only with still water: in small tubs or water troughs the plant must not freeze completely into the ice. Move the tub to a sheltered spot or cover the water surface with a board, a polystyrene sheet or horticultural fleece.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Division
The easiest way to propagate watercress is from cuttings: in spring or summer, cut shoot tips about 10 cm long and stand them in a glass of fresh water; first roots form after about a week. Practically every piece of shoot roots, because the plant produces roots at its leaf nodes anyway. Then set the rooted cuttings in moist, nutrient-poor substrate (a sand and compost mix) in a watertight container, so that 1 to 2 cm of water stands on the bottom. Change the water regularly and keep the plants in partial shade. Alternatively, sow directly from spring to late summer onto permanently moist soil; only press the seeds on lightly and cover them with no more than a whisper of soil, since they need light and even moisture to germinate. The seedlings usually appear after about 1 to 2 weeks. In spring, existing clumps can be divided by hand by splitting the rootstock, and replanted straight away in moist substrate.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanSnow peaWrinkled pea and 36 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example CarrotCeleriacDillParsleyFlorence fennelCoriander and 21 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 43 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example NasturtiumMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow watercress yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
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