Light
Bright, 12–14 h; it grows leggy in too little light.
Watering
Keep constantly moist, never dry out — cress only germinates and grows with steady moisture.
Temperature
15–22 °C; cool and fast, heat makes it bitter.
Humidity
55–70 %, higher during germination.
Target values by method & stage
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 5.8–6.5 | 0.2–0.6 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 65–80 | 12 | 3 |
| Seedling | 5.8–6.5 | 0.6–1 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 60–70 | 14 | 7 |
| Harvest | 5.8–6.5 | 0.8–1.2 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 55–65 | 14 | 10 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6.1–6.8 | 0.2–0.6 | — | 15–22 | 65–80 | 12 | 3 |
| Seedling | 6.1–6.8 | 0.6–1 | — | 15–22 | 60–70 | 14 | 7 |
| Harvest | 6.1–6.8 | 0.8–1.2 | — | 15–22 | 55–65 | 14 | 10 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 5.8–6.5 | 0.2–0.6 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 65–80 | 12 | 3 |
| Seedling | 5.8–6.5 | 0.6–1 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 60–70 | 14 | 7 |
| Harvest | 5.8–6.5 | 0.8–1.2 | 16–22 | 15–22 | 55–65 | 14 | 10 |
Common problems
Damping-off (Pythium) when too warm-wet and sown densely; mould in still air. Sow thinly and ventilate.
Pests & diseases
| Pest / Disease | Symptom | Organic treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Flea beetles | tiny holes in leaves (outdoors) | fleece cover, keep moist |
| Damping-off | seedlings collapse | avoid overwatering, good airflow |
Edible parts
- Leaves · edible from Seedling — as microgreen/sprout
- Seeds · edible from Fruiting
Yield techniques
Cut just above the substrate with scissors once the first true leaves appear — usually a single harvest, then re-sow.
Propagation & pollination
- Method
- seed
- Germination time
- 2 days
- Germination temp
- 15-20 °C
- Sowing depth
- 0.2 cm
- Pollination
- self
- Hand pollination needed
- no
germinates extremely fast
Companion planting
🔴 Bad neighbours: Coriander (Cilantro)
Flavor
sharp, mustardy, peppery
Storage
Harvest fresh and eat right away.
History
Garden cress comes from Western Asia and Egypt and is one of the oldest cultivated plants of all.
Nutrition
Rich in vitamin C, iron and pungent mustard oils.
Sources
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