American/land Cress - any one grow it?

[chengjing]

I bought a packet of seeds (Cress - American/land variegated winter) from T&M the last year and have managed to get them to grow after a few attempts.

However my land cress is so bitter that is worse than the worst medicine I ever had. It is just impossible to eat, nothing like what is described on the packet. I am very disappointed.

Just wondering if anyone else grew it and if yours taste ok before I bin mine?

I enclose the picture of the plant here.



thanks.

chengjing

[FoxHillGardener]

I've grown the plain green one and it was fine to eat; a bit coarser in texture than watercress, but not bitter, just peppery. Made nice soup with it. Perhaps you could try that and find something to counteract the bitterness. Found this Counteracting the bitterness in greens | Just Hungry but Heston Blumental suggests using salt not something sweet Taste not, want not | Life and style | The Guardian

[Alice]

Hello Chenjing, I tried the stuff. Germination was poor, growth was pathetically slow and I didn't like the taste of it. I didn't bother with it again.

[Flummery]

I've grown the plain one - we loved it. Quite peppery and watercress flavoured. Maybe you sacrifice flavour and texture to get the variegation?

[chengjing]

thanks for the comments, Alice, I am glad I am not alone on this one. It sounds like I should bin it and try the plain ones.

[T-lady]

Again, I'm with Flummery on this one. No variegations, lovely green plants and great as a watercress substitute.

[cupcake]

I grew the plain one last year and loved it! Unfortunately, so did our sparrows!

[nerobot]

Tried to grow some this year, but unfortunately they just didn't seem to germinate. Will try again next year.

Steven

[Rhona]

I'm growing plain variety this year - agree that they are very slow to germinate (I am rather challenging them by making them do it outside, in very cold weather, with only a bit of a cloche on top), but they are getting there.

A pinch out of one is strong and peppery but that's what I want in a winter leaf!

[Gro-Bag]

I grew the plain dark green years ago on a veg plot and it was lovely, very like watercress. Tried it in a patio container this summer but nothing much happened, so will try again in the plot in the Spring.

[percy charlie]

i grew some land cress this year, looked very like watercress and was similar green colour, didnt plant it till end of may, it went in normal garden soil, sowen in a shallow drill, soil smoothed on top and watered. it germinated and grew quite well, had a very hot papery taste and was similar to water cress, didnt seem bitter but due to heat of pepperyness was used for soups. lost its quality of taste and went a bit bitter from around october so maybe its a season thing, but was first time i grew it.