Garden Cress
Lepidium sativum
Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) is a fast-growing annual herb in the Brassicaceae, prized for its tiny, peppery leaves that pack a sharp, tangy, mustard-like punch. One of the easiest and quickest greens to grow, garden cress can be harvested just 7 to 14 days after sowing, making it a classic children's gardening project and a gourmet garnish simultaneously.
• Can be harvested just 7 to 14 days after sowing — one of the fastest crops in existence
• Also called "peppergrass" for its sharp, peppery taste
• The genus name Lepidium means "small scale," referring to the scale-like seed pods
• Often grown on damp paper towels or cotton — no soil required
• The seeds produce a gelatinous coating when wet and are used to make a soothing drink
• A traditional remedy for coughs and colds in many cultures
Taxonomy
• Cultivated since ancient Egyptian times — seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs
• Ancient Greeks and Romans grew cress as a salad green and medicinal plant
• Persian traditional medicine valued cress seeds as a healing food
• Spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa in ancient times
• The genus Lepidium contains approximately 175 species distributed worldwide
• Also called "halim" in Hindi and "habbat al rasoul" in Arabic
• In India, cress seeds are used in traditional postpartum nutrition
Plant:
• Erect, branching, 15 to 40 cm tall at maturity
• Glabrous (smooth) or sparsely hairy
Leaves:
• Basal leaves: deeply lobed to pinnatifid, 3 to 10 cm long
• Upper leaves: narrower, entire or slightly toothed
• Light green, tender, with a sharp peppery-mustard flavor
Flowers:
• Very small, white, four-petaled, 2 to 3 mm across
• Borne in terminal racemes
Fruit:
• Small, flattened, orbicular silicles, 5 to 6 mm wide
• Winged margins
Seeds:
• Tiny, oval, reddish-brown, 1 to 2 mm
• Develop a mucilaginous coating when soaked in water
• This gel-like coating has soothing properties
Per 100 g fresh leaves:
• Energy: approximately 30 kcal
• Vitamin C: excellent source — historically used to prevent scurvy
• Vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate
• Iron: significant amounts — cress seeds are particularly iron-rich
• Calcium: good source
• Contains glucosinolates (glucotropaeolin)
• Rich in antioxidants and flavonoids
• Provides dietary fiber
Cress seeds:
• Rich in protein (approximately 25%)
• Good source of iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Contain mucilaginous fiber that soothes the digestive tract
Soil-based:
• Sow seeds thickly in moist, fertile soil
• Barely cover seeds or leave on surface
• Germinates in 2 to 4 days at 15 to 20°C
• Ready to harvest in 7 to 14 days as a microgreen
Soil-free:
• Sprinkle seeds on damp paper towels, cotton, or a sprouting tray
• Keep moist in a warm location
• Harvest in 7 to 10 days
Site:
• Grows in full sun to partial shade
• Cool temperatures preferred (10 to 20°C)
• Bolts quickly in warm weather
Harvest:
• Cut with scissors when seedlings are 3 to 8 cm tall
• Harvest before the first true leaves are fully developed for most tender texture
• Succession sow every 7 to 10 days for continuous supply
• As a peppery garnish for soups, sandwiches, salads, and egg dishes
• In salads — adds a sharp, tangy bite
• In sandwiches — paired with egg or cream cheese
• As a microgreen — one of the most popular sprouting seeds
• In Indian cuisine: cress seeds (halim) soaked in water or milk as a nutritional drink
• Cress tea — traditionally used for coughs and colds
• In European cuisine: cress added to potato salads and herb butters
• As a decorative element on plated dishes
Medicinal uses:
• Cress seed drink for iron supplementation
• Traditional cough and cold remedy
• Used as a lactation aid in some cultures
• The mucilaginous seeds used for digestive soothing
Fun Fact
Garden Cress is one of the few vegetables that can be grown literally anywhere, anytime — it requires no soil, no garden, and no special equipment. A paper towel, some water, and a windowsill are all you need to produce a harvest of fresh, peppery greens in just 7 days, making it quite possibly the most accessible food crop on the planet.
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