Watercress

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

I bought a living watercress from Sainsburys last week, a huge mound rammed into a tiny pot. On removing the pot I could see no compost but a tight mass of roots, it was many plants together, I think grown hydroponically. I planted it in soil/comp in 8" pot and dunked it in a bucket of water for an hour then let it drain. Its growing well and Ive had 3 sandwiches worth allready. I know it should be in running water really but hey ho.
Was thinking of rigging up a small fishpond pump system to recirculate water over it. Has anyone ever tried this???

[reetnproper]

Wouldn't American Land Cress be easier? Just as gorgeous to eat but much less hassle to grow . We grow ours (7 pots at a time and successionally) in 9 inch plant pots in the GH - cutting it on a rota system we get 4-5 harvests per pot .

Reet
x

[realfood]

Watercress grows perfectly well without running water. It even grows well on damp soil in a shady place in the Autumn and self-seeds on my allotment.

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Ah interestng ,shall try to find some landcress. Thanks for info.

[Curlykale]

Reet, how many seeds do you sow in each pot?

[reetnproper]

Prob' about 5 or 6 - max. Don't want to overcrowd them but that number seems to make a good quantity for cutting. That said, the first year we grew them OH was in charge of the veg and he liberally sowed the seeds in the pots and it didn't seem to do them any harm.