Water cress

[lesleygl]

Is it possible to grow it or is it only by specialised growers?

[Two_Sheds]

there are a few older threads on this if you fancy a browse. Here's one: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ess_31083.html

[VirginVegGrower]

It used to grow wild in streams near to where I lived as a child. No longer there anymore. I know in the Hampshire fields it grows in flooded fields so you have to have the water. There is an alternative land cress you can grow.

[jackyspratty]

Its actually very easy to grow, and very tasty too. Ive grown it in a pot for the last two years, but as two sheds check out the links she gave you as they will cover a lot of what you want to know.

Buy a packet of seeds and give it a go.

[Florence Fennel]

Is it possible to grow it or is it only by specialised growers?

Give it a try, it grows really well. My daughter made beautiful soup with it two years ago and I've grown it since.

[VirginVegGrower]

Well I never knew you could grow it out of water. I am inspired to give it a whirl as I always look for the new season Hampshire watercress. Now I'll do my own although I would love a running stream through the garden - would make it easier.

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

My local Sainsbury's gets them in for £1 a pot around May I think. I them wash off the compost and sit it on filter material within my pond. The plant romps away feeding on the waste within the water and its helps to clean the pond. From one plant I was able to fill around 15+ of the bags of washed watercress you get from the supermarket! I intend to experiment a bit more with this after reading one of Mrs Dobby's posts on Aquaponics. I will attempt to collate my findings and post the results at the end of the season.

Dave

[Headfry]

If I grow it in my little pond, would it be safe to eat?

[nannyphizz]

very easy to grow if you have a pond,just put a piece in you get from the supermarket,then watch it multiply,my husband does it every year.

[Potstubsdustbins]

SWMBO buys from the supermarket, puts in a planter in the carp pond and away we go loads of lovely water cress.

Colin

[kentvegplot]

Also, for those without ponds, can I recommend growing american land cress? It has a very similar flavour and has come through the winter unscathed!

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

I've done it for a few years now without issue, just huge fantastically healthy plants. I think the issue comes with collecting from streams as there is a bug (name escapes me) which can cause you grief but it found in streams rather than carp ponds.

Dave

[wetwalnut]

I have just finished making a raised pond on the lottie for the intention of growing watercress only.

I was advised to make sure the water was thoroughly clean, as there is a bug called liver fluke that could cause problems if not done correctly.

I have seen on the shelf in the Range alot of pond cleaning products that will kill any unwanted bacteria, and therfore I think growing watercress will thrive in a pond enviroment.

Has anyone tried these pond cleaning products, and would this benifit growing watercress safely ?

Also when you plant watercress in a pond, where do you put it ?

Im thinking of putting the soil in an old sock or something attached to a stone with string. so the plant can float on the surface. Would that work ?

[Potstubsdustbins]

WW,
I am no expert but I think liver fluke is a disease found in fish.

As to pond cleaning products I would read the contents list very carefully some of them are quite nasty.

My pond as running water so growing cress is much easier. From what I have seen SWMBO makes a hessian bag with compost inside, plants through the bag and then places that in a plastic planter on the surface. The plastic planter is purely to protect the cress from the carp.

Colin

[lesleygl]

Thank you all for your very interesting answers about water cress. Sound like you have inspired lots of us to have a go, I certainly am! Just been to the garden centre and bought a packet of seed £1.39 for 410 seeds, if I buy it already grown in the supermarket it is £1 a bag.

I have decided to sow in pots and put the pots in a trough and keep topped up with water. Was going to use my pond but when I checked it out after the winter all my fish had died to probably safer to use a different method. On the other the hand, this year my pond is full of frogs spawn, which is a real bonus.