Watercress

📖 About This Plant

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial herb producing small, rounded, dark-green leaves with a distinctive peppery bite and high nutritional value — it's one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables on earth, rich in vitamins K, C, and A. Hardy in zones 3–9, watercress thrives in shallow running water or consistently wet, cool soil — ideally near a stream or in a boggy garden spot. It can also be grown in containers sitting in a tray of water that's changed regularly. Cool temperatures produce the best flavor; heat and drought make it bolt and turn unpleasantly bitter. The young shoots and leaves are exceptional in salads, sandwiches, soups, and pesto. Self-seeds readily in consistently moist conditions to persist year after year.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Grow watercress in consistently moist to wet, cool conditions — running water is ideal, but a pot set in a shallow tray of water changed every 2–3 days works well. Use rich, slightly alkaline soil or a moist, loamy mix. Plant in partial shade to prevent bolting in warm weather; filtered light extends the harvest season significantly. Water continuously — watercress must never dry out. Fertilize monthly with a dilute balanced liquid fertilizer. Harvest outer stems regularly — cut-and-come-again harvesting keeps plants productive for weeks. Once plants flower and set seed, flavor declines; cut back hard to stimulate fresh leaf growth. In zones 3–7, watercress grows spring through fall; in zones 8–9, grow as a cool-season winter crop. Start new plants from cuttings simply by placing stems in water — they root in days.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Watercress:

🌿 Related Vegetable

More vegetable that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions