Watercress

[thesunflowergal]

Who was it who grew Watercress last year? I am really sorry but I can't remember, and can not find the post.

Which seeds did you use please?

I fancied giving it a go this year.

Thanks Nikki

[Millymollymandy]

It was me and the thread is here http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... ss#p159455

But - they karked it as soon as the weather got warm so I only got a couple of pickings.

[grahamhobbs]

Try landcress it's dead easy, it needs no special treatment, it sits in the corner of the polytunnel (although it also does fine outside), it self seeds and I consider it a permanent source of tasty leaves (v. similar to watercress)

[Millymollymandy]

No - that doesn't grow here - too hot and dry.

[Green Aura]

It * grew in abundance in Manchester - in every bl**dy bed in the garden, side of paths, and anywhere else the stuff could find a crack to germinate.

I've got a packet here and am loathe to plant. We live in an SSSI area - I'm scared of altering the ecosystem!

I've also bought a packet of Greek cress, but not tried it yet - anyone know what it's like?

Edited- * American land cress, not watercress.

[grahamhobbs]

MMM, surprised it doesn't grow where you are, as it grows right through summer in the polytunnel here in London alongside the tomatoes, etc. Suggest you try to establish it by sowing in early autumn, then it will always be there.
For me it's a bit like Marche (lambs lettuce), looks after itself, self seeds amoungst other crops, a wonderful fall-back in winter, but unlike marche it is available all year. Of course, unlike mild flavoured marche it is peppery like watercress and doesn't run to seed so easily as rocket.

[thesunflowergal]

Does anyone know if chickens will eat it? Might not be too much of a pain, if i can feed it to them.

[Millymollymandy]

My packet of land cress says grows best in a cool moist soil in part shade. Also to sow in late summer and autumn. I tried but it is always dry as a bone here in late summer and even in semi shade it never came to anything and there's not much of a growing season left if you sow something in autumn.

It's almost easier to pick hairy bittercress, the weed.