Cress Curled

Cress Curled, also known as garden cress, is a fast-growing, peppery herb that adds a flavorful punch to salads, sandwiches, and soups. Its quick growth makes it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a fast turnaround and a fresh addition to their dishes.

Preparing for Growing:

• Selecting a planting location: Choose a location with partial shade to full sun.
• Soil preparation: Prepare well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
• Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: If growing in containers, ensure they have drainage holes.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

• Seed preparation: Cress seeds require no special preparation.
• Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use shallow trays or pots filled with seed-starting mix.
• Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Scatter seeds evenly over the soil surface and press them lightly into the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide adequate light for germination.
• Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Once seedlings develop true leaves, thin them out or transplant them to larger containers to prevent overcrowding.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

• Soil preparation: Loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches and remove any weeds or debris.
• Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Directly sow cress seeds outdoors after the last frost date in your area, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
• Caring for seeds outdoors: Keep the soil consistently moist until seeds germinate, which usually takes 7-14 days.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

• Selecting suitable plants for containers: Cress is well-suited for container growth due to its shallow root system.
• Container and soil preparation: Choose shallow containers with good drainage and fill them with potting mix.
• Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Sow seeds or transplant seedlings into containers, ensuring they are planted at the same depth as they were in their original containers.
• Caring for container plants: Place containers in a location with partial shade to full sun and water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist.

Transplanting to Garden:

• Soil and planting site preparation: Choose a location with well-draining soil and partial shade to full sun.
• Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date, spacing them about 6 inches apart.
• Post-transplant care: Water newly transplanted seedlings deeply and provide shade for a few days to help them acclimate to outdoor conditions.

Plant Care:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during hot weather.
• Fertilizing: Cress generally does not require fertilization if grown in fertile soil.
• Weeding: Keep the area around cress plants free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
• Pest and disease management: Cress is relatively pest and disease-resistant but may occasionally be affected by aphids or fungal diseases. Monitor plants regularly and treat any issues promptly.

Harvesting:

• Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Harvest cress leaves when they reach a height of 2-3 inches.
• Harvesting and storage guidelines: Use scissors to cut the leaves just above the soil level. Cress is best used fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• Start cress seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date in your area, or sow them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: Scatter seeds over the soil surface and lightly press them into the soil.
• Seed spacing: Space seeds about 1 inch apart.
• Plant spacing: Space transplanted seedlings about 6 inches apart.
• Number of seeds per pot/container: Sow seeds densely and thin out seedlings as they grow.
• Water preferences: Cress prefers consistently moist soil.
• Sun preferences: Partial shade to full sun.
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
• Companion Planting: Plant cress near tomatoes, lettuce, or radishes to attract beneficial insects.
• Temperature Preference: Cress prefers cooler temperatures and may bolt in hot weather.
• Days to Germination: Cress seeds typically germinate in 7-14 days.
• Days to Harvest: Harvest cress leaves when they reach a height of 2-3 inches.