Where do cress seeds come from?

[The Gardener]

Might sound like a stupid question...

I grow cress on my windowsill and I decided to repot one and let it grow on to see what happened, it appeared to evolve into an unusual looking larger plant. During this time I believed that it may eventually flower maybe and produce seeds, but after a couple of weeks it started to droop, and it's growth seemed to stop so I ate it.

This leads me to asking where cress seeds come from, apart from packets in a supermarket. ?

The Gardener

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

What an interesting question - can't wait to see the answer!

[User Removed]

Cress are perennials. They flower the second year after they have been overwintered

Hope that helps

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks Adam - any tips on how to get them to overwintering stage then please?

[User Removed]

Well..to be honest I have never overwintered cress for seeds and I only know of others who have done so.

Personally I would just keep them overwinter on the windowsill or in a heated greenhouse. Then sometime next year the plants will flower and you can save the seeds.

Hope that helps!

[Flummery]

I know that if you grow them in the ground instead of in a little pot on on a bit of flannel you get things about 12" high and really nice to eat!

[Paulottie]

A stork drops them down the chimney.

[Paulottie]

Sorry!

Do you cook the mature plant it or is it for salads Flummery?

[shirlthegirl43]

Note to self - buy more cress seeds and give it a try!

[Flummery]

Salads but it's a more robust plant. Great to add to mixed leaf salads. It also looks quite decorative as a bed edging.

[The Gardener]

Thanks for the welcome and advice.

Fascinating... Maybe I should have re-potted it.
Any idea aproximately how many seeds an individual cress plant produces?...

Speaking of which, I'm also growing Rocket lettuce. I planted the first batch in February and it's almost ready for harvesting, what's more a part of the plant has grown larger than the rest and appears to be flowering. I didn't know rocket salad did that. I'm wondering is it ready when it flowers?

As for the cress i'm gonna give it a go. Will let you know what happens.

The Gardener

[Paulottie]

Entirely the opposite. Rocket too strong for me by the time it flowers. I slaughter it very young and keep on sowing it.

[The Gardener]

D'oh! I wondered why one leaf I tasted was a bit bitter. Better harvest it.

I'll leave the flowering part though for now.

Cheers

[Paulottie]

Worth keeping a couple for seed tho.

[Headfry]

I have eaten rocket flowers, they are lovely! rocket tasting but slightly sweet! great on salads!