Plant Watercress Seeds

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Watercress requires lots of moisture to germinate.

In the wild, watercress grows along freshwater streams. It requires wet roots, so it works well planted in backyard ponds or potted inside water features. Even if you don't have a pond, you can still grow watercress in flooded containers. A hardy plant, it remains green throughout winter in most areas, providing cold-weather greens for the kitchen. Watercress leaves have a peppery tasty that works well in salads or sandwiches. The small white flowers and large green leaves also add interest to wherever it is grown. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Fill a 12-inch diameter or larger pot with a no-soil potting mix containing peat and vermiculite. Water the soil until it is thoroughly moistened and slightly soggy.

2. Sprinkle the seeds on top the potting mix surface. Watercress seeds are small and fine, so sow approximately two seeds per square inch of potting mix surface. Press the seeds lightly against the surface with your finger.

3. Set the pot in a shallow dish that is wider than the pot bottom. Fill the dish with water.

4. Set the pot in a cool, sunny location. Watercress germinates within five days when temperatures are between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Thin the plants when they begin growing in their second set of leaves. Pluck out the weaker plants so that the remaining strong plants are spaced 6 to 8 inches apart.

6. Refill the dish as needed to maintain the water level. Water the pot from the top so the potting mix surface remains wet, but do not leave standing water on top the soil surface.

Tags: potting surface, works well