Tasty Cress in Just a Few Days

In short: Cress needs no soil or special equipment – seeds sown densely on damp cotton wool or paper towels germinate in 2 to 3 days and reach 5 to 7 cm in 5 to 7 days, when you cut them with scissors above the base. Keep it at 18 to 22 °C in indirect light and constantly moist.

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is an annual plant belonging to the cruciferous family (Brassicaceae). Garden cress grows to a height of 20 - 60 cm. The stem is erect, branched in the upper part, and covered with a waxy bloom. The lower stem leaves are 1x - 2x pinnately divided, middle leaves are less divided, and upper leaves are often linear. The flowers are small, four-petaled, with white petals, arranged in a raceme. The fruits are spoon-shaped, broadly elliptical silicles. The native range of garden cress is southwestern Asia and northeastern Africa. It has gradually spread to other parts of the world as a cultivated vegetable. In our region, it has been present since the end of the 19th century. Garden cress is a cultivated form of cultivated cress. Approximately 108 representatives of the Lepidium genus are known. These include, for example, field cress (Lepidium campestre), prairie pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), lesser swine-cress (Lepidium didymum), Smith's pepperwort (Lepidium heterophyllum), dittander (Lepidium latifolium), perfoliate pepperweed (Lepidium perfoliatum), narrow-leaved pepperwort (Lepidium ruderale), and Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum). Garden cress can be confused with narrow-leaved pepperwort. They can be distinguished by the stem. Garden cress has a waxy-bloomed and odourless stem, while narrow-leaved pepperwort has a stem without waxy bloom and an unpleasant odour.

• For cultivation, you can choose, for example, the Krause Kresse variety of cress. This is an aromatic cress variety that can be harvested after just 2 - 3 weeks. It requires sandy soil rich in nutrients and plenty of moisture.

• For year-round cultivation in planters or bowls, Danish cress with a piquant taste is suitable. It is grown on moist substrate or on cotton wool. It is harvested when it reaches approximately 5 cm in height.

• Garden Cress Sprint organic is a product of organic farming. It can be sown outdoors from March to September and year-round in window boxes. Seeds are not covered after sowing. Garden cress can also be grown for sprouts, for which you need to obtain organic seeds that have not been chemically treated and are specifically intended for sprouting!

Growing Garden Cress

Growing your own garden cress is very simple and truly anyone can do it, without a garden bed, without a balcony... Yes, garden cress is very undemanding, it only needs a small spot on a windowsill or in a brighter place in your home. It is mostly grown for consumption of young shoots. Growing it in a garden bed for this purpose is not very suitable. Growing in a tray or window box is more convenient. Garden cress can be sown throughout the year. However, sowings outside the season are most beneficial, when there is a shortage of other types of fresh vegetables. Thanks to harvesting garden cress, you can at least partially fill this gap. Garden cress seeds are sown very densely in a window box or tray filled with lighter soil, sand, or sawdust. However, you can also sow on cotton wool or paper towels. The most convenient option is to get a special mini set for plant sprouts, which consists of a reusable tray and two portions of garden cress seeds. Place cotton wool on the bottom of the tray, moisten it well, and pour seeds densely on it (seeds must not float in the tray). Place the tray in a bright spot or on a windowsill. Keep the cotton wool or substrate constantly moist, which sometimes requires multiple waterings per day depending on temperature and air humidity in your home. Covering the sowing with a plastic bag will help maintain stable moisture. Garden cress begins to germinate 2-3 days after sowing. The first harvest can be done in one to two weeks, depending on growing conditions. Garden cress ready for harvest should be about 10 cm tall. At this time, you can cut only the tops and the plants will grow back, so you can harvest two to three times from one batch of seeds. Rinse the harvested plants with water and you can consume them. If you decide to grow it outdoors, you can sow repeatedly from March until autumn. Do not cover the sown seeds. In outdoor conditions, garden cress germinates longer and grows more slowly. Don't forget to water it regularly here too, seeds and young plants must never dry out!

What Is This Little Wonder from a Bowl Good For?

Cress is truly a little wonder from a bowl. It's one of the few types of vegetables you can grow even during hard frosts, and what's more, very easily. Cress contains large amounts of vitamin C, which comes in extremely handy especially in winter. It's a source of thiamine (vitamin B1) and beta-carotene. These substances are important for a strong immune system, they are effective antioxidants that rid the body of toxins and prevent degenerative processes in cells and tissues. Cress also contains a number of minerals - for example potassium, iron, magnesium and calcium. Cress is valued as a plant beneficial for kidneys and urinary tract, as it rids them of toxic substances and eliminates microorganisms causing inflammation. Regular consumption is therefore suitable for people who suffer from frequent bladder or kidney infections. You can also reach for cress in case of colds and respiratory diseases. It helps treat cough and stimulates the immune system. Cress supports the production of digestive juices, thereby stimulating the activity of the gallbladder and liver - it has beneficial effects on digestion. It's therefore good to add it to fattier and heavier meals - cress will ease their digestion. You can use cress during a detox cleanse. Thanks to the presence of potassium, it has a diuretic effect and cleanses the kidneys. It belongs to the group of herbs and vegetables that purify the blood.

How to Prepare Cress?

Always consume cress in its fresh state, as cooking would make it bitter. The older the plants, the more pungent and pronounced their taste. Young cress plants taste similar to radish. Young plants are excellent when placed on bread with butter. Finely chopped cress can be added to various cottage cheese, egg or cheese spreads. It tastes great in vegetable salads or on boiled potatoes or in mashed potatoes. There are no limits to the imagination of its use.

Try cress sprouts too - their vitamin content is up to 500% higher than in mature plants.

Cress sprouts have a high nutritional value of all essential nutrients (vitamins, enzymes and minerals) and are also easily digestible. Consuming healthy organic sprouts has regenerative effects. Sprouts contain plenty of provitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B12, E and K. The main minerals include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Sprouts also contain a wide range of enzymes that support digestion. Sprouts can be consumed by children from 1 year of age, for whom they contribute to supporting healthy growth. Preparing sprouts is very simple. Soak suitable seeds (organic quality sprouts without chemical treatment) in water for 8-10 hours. Then drain the water and rinse the seeds thoroughly on a sieve. Rinse the seeds thoroughly in the following days too. During sprouting, the seeds don't need to be submerged in water, but they must remain constantly moist. Unlike traditional growing, light exposure is limited. By the third or fourth day, the sprout leaves should develop and you can start consuming them. To make your sprouted cress taste even better, you can take comfort in knowing that sprouted seeds contain up to 500% more vitamins than mature plants - regular consumption leads to improved digestion and immunity. Sprouts are an alkaline food, which is worth highlighting in today's over-acidified times.