Garden cress is hands-down one of the easiest herbs you can grow. Seriously, it’s so low-maintenance that it’s the perfect “starter plant” for getting kids excited about gardening. Whether you’re curious about sowing seeds, finding the right spot, or general care, growing your own cress is a total breeze.
Cress: The Ultimate Low-Maintenance Herb
Whether you have a big backyard, a greenhouse, or just a sunny windowsill, you can grow cress pretty much anywhere. It isn’t picky about its location, though it does need a bit of light to get those seeds germinating. It’ll even grow in the shade, though it might take just a little longer to reach harvest size.
When it comes to soil, garden cress isn’t high-maintenance at all. It thrives in nutrient-rich garden soil just as well as in poorer conditions. The main trick is keeping the soil consistently moist so it doesn’t dry out—beyond that, it’s not fussy! Cress is also a fantastic “gap filler” or companion plant to grow alongside your other veggies.
Sowing Cress Outdoors
If you’re planting in the garden, you can sow cress in rows or just scatter the seeds across a patch. Start by loosening the soil a bit and making rows about 6 inches apart. Since cress needs light to germinate, don’t bury the seeds deep; just a very thin dusting of soil on top is plenty. Pro tip: Mix the seeds with a little sand before sowing to keep them from washing away when you water them.
You can start sowing outdoors around mid-May. The sweet spot for fast germination is about 60°F (15°C). Keep the soil nice and damp, and you should see sprouts in as little as two days! And don’t worry about the birds—they usually find cress seeds pretty unappetizing, so they’ll leave your crop alone.
Growing Cress on Your Windowsill
Want fresh herbs year-round? You can easily grow cress indoors on your windowsill. It’s incredibly simple, and you don’t even need potting soil! You can use basic household items like:
- Cotton balls
- Tissues
- Paper towels
The key is to keep the seeds moist without letting them sit in a puddle of standing water. You can get creative with your containers, too—plates, egg cartons, or old plastic tubs all work great. Cress is a survivor and will grow just about anywhere you put it!
