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Growing a watercress near a water feature in your yard is a great idea. Alternatively, you can mimic the saturated conditions of a stream by growing a potted watercress plant in a bucket. For culinary and medicinal purposes, the leaves and shoots are grown abundantly.
The peppery flavour of watercress has gained much popularity, particularly as a salad ingredient in India. The plant is resilient enough to be gathered all winter and fall, although flavour peaks in the cooler months. Watercress loses some of its potent flavour when it blooms.
Watercress is simple to cultivate indoors or outdoors in a container or garden bed as long as you give it lots of moisture. Watercress should be planted early in the spring and harvested before the summer heat arrives. For more, continue reading!
How To Plant An Indoor Watercress?
Growing watercress is not too difficult and doesn't take much room. Indeed, watercress can thrive in a planter placed on a windowsill. The secret to success is to maintain damp but not soggy soil. Since the watercress prefers some shadow, it is better to plant it in a spot with sunlight all day. To grow watercress indoors, take a look:
- Seeds are available for purchase online or in nurseries and gardening supply stores. There are two common varieties of watercress: broad-leaf cress and English watercress.
- Choose a large container or planter with drainage holes and at least 6 inches of depth. Place tiny stones on the bottom layer of the container to promote appropriate drainage.
- Put the planting container on top of a larger bucket or drainage tray. Watering the plant frequently is necessary. Its soil needs to be wet at all times. Add more water to the tray or bucket to keep the plant moist.
- Use a soilless mixture that drains well, such as vermiculite, perlite, or peat moss. Make sure to completely water the mixture, leaving a space of about two inches at the top of the container. The ideal pH range for the potting mix is 6.5 to 7.5.
- Plant the seeds in the potting soil 1/4 inch deep, spacing them three to four inches apart.
- Soak the potting mix well enough to fill the drainage tray about halfway but not over the top of the container. Replace the water in the drainage tray with fresh water every two to three days.
- The watercress should be placed where it will receive roughly six hours of natural light every day; however, it should not be placed in harsh, direct sunlight as this could burn the young plants.
How To Plant An Outdoor Watercress?
It's crucial to pick a spot with adequate drainage and lots of sunlight when growing watercress outside. Additionally, the soil needs to be kept damp but not soggy. Usually, watercress is grown from seedlings that can be bought from an internet or garden centre supplier. To cultivate watercress outside, use these tips:
- Start by sowing or cultivating established watercress. Grocery stores and farmers' markets carry mature watercress. Just soak the bases of the stalks in water for a few days to encourage the growth of roots, and then put them in soil like you would seeds.
- Cold, sunny, and partly shaded conditions are ideal for watercress growth. Although you can create your pool of water, the shallow section of a freshwater stream or creek that runs regularly is the ideal location for growing watercress.
- Create a hole that is 12 inches deep and roughly two feet across. The bottom and sides should be lined with a thick sheet of sturdy plastic pond lining, with a four-inch lip at the top and a few drainage holes in the sides.
- Add garden soil, compost, coarse builder's sand, and a small amount of fertiliser to the lined hole. Before planting, ensure the earth is thoroughly moistened, and pour enough water into the hole.
- After sowing the seeds, which should be spaced about 1/2 inch apart and 1/4 inch deep, a light layer of high-quality gardening soil should be applied.
Watercress Upkeep & Care
A beautiful accent to any garden, watercress requires little maintenance. Ensuring the watercress gets an ample water supply is essential for maintaining its health. Since watercress prefers moist soil, it's critical to water it frequently, particularly in the summer.
Furthermore, watercress prefers partial shade, so planting it somewhere that receives some sun but not direct sunlight is a good option. Watercress requires less care when it comes to fertilisation. All it takes to keep it looking its best is a small fertiliser spray every few weeks. Watercress grows well in any garden with a little love and care.
How To Harvest Watercress?
Growing watercress is not too difficult and may be picked all during the growing season. Just trim the stems of the watercress about an inch above the roots to gather it. You can harvest watercress several times during the season because the leaves will regrow. Make careful to wash the watercress to remove any dirt or debris before collecting it. After cleaning, you can eat it immediately or save it for later use in the refrigerator.
Since the ancient Greeks and Romans, watercress has been a staple in cuisine and is widely recognised for its medicinal qualities. It is even popular in India in lots of East Indian tribal cuisines. It is a salad leaf that is well worth growing because it is believed to have many advantages.
