Cress Seeds

How to grow Cress plants from seed

• If growing ‘curled’ in pots, use recycled or a compostable container
• When sowing indoor cress you can literally lay the seed on damp on tissue. Use a recycled mushroom pallet from the supermarket. You can also use seed trays
• If sowing outside, sow in blocks creating a good thick covering of cress when they germinate. Fork over the ground and add a bit of soil improver if soil is heavy
• Rake the ground level and lightly firm. Sow cress seeds as evenly as possible over the area
• Keep these seeds well-watered using a watering can with a rose head turned upside down. This will avoid splashing the seeds out.

How to grow cress seeds in cotton wool?

Grow a cress egg head! A great easy to grow plant that children can grow. Grow it in used egg-shells with the tops knocked off. Decorate them first with paint and draw on a face.

Fill the egg-shell with soil, kitchen roll or cotton wool and sprinkle the cress seed on thickly. Cress will grow to make an edible hairstyle. Crop and eat when at seedling stage using a pair of scissors to harvest.

How long does cress take to grow?

American Land cress, a tasty alternative to watercress is sown between March and August outdoors and takes between 8 and 10 weeks to mature. Curled cress can be grown indoors all year round, and takes just 6-8 days to reach maturity.

For more growing advice, check out the 'How to grow salad from seed' article.