Cress is a fast-growing herb, known for its distinct peppery flavor and ease of cultivation, making it an ideal choice for indoor gardening. This plant, botanically known as Lepidium sativum, offers a fresh harvest quickly and can be grown on a sunny windowsill year-round, requiring minimal space. Growing cress indoors provides a simple way to add a crisp, spicy element to salads and sandwiches. The process is straightforward, requiring only a few basic materials and consistent attention to moisture. This guide details the setup, planting, and harvesting methods necessary for a continuous supply of this fresh microgreen.
Choosing the Right Cress and Preparing Your Setup
The most common and easiest variety for indoor cultivation is garden cress, also often sold as curled cress, which is ready to harvest in a short timeframe. Greek cress is another option, offering a stronger, spicier flavor, but it is less common for simple indoor microgreen setups. The decision between growing in a traditional soil mix or a soilless medium will influence your setup, but both are effective for a quick harvest. If you plan to harvest the cress when it is very young, using a non-soil option like a paper towel, cotton wool, or a felt mat is perfectly adequate.
For a container, select a shallow tray or dish without drainage holes, which helps maintain the high moisture content the seeds need to germinate. A depth of around two inches is sufficient for the growing medium, whether it is a thin layer of peat-free potting mix or a sheet of damp material. Place your container in a location that receives ample light, such as a brightly lit south-facing windowsill, which will provide the six to eight hours of light needed for optimal growth. Maintaining an indoor temperature between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for the cress to thrive.
Sowing Seeds and Essential Daily Care
Begin the planting process by thoroughly moistening your chosen growing medium until it is damp but not waterlogged. Waterlogging can lead to fungal issues and prevent the seeds from establishing properly. Sprinkle the cress seeds densely across the surface of the medium, ensuring they are close together but not directly overlapping. Unlike many other seeds, cress seeds should not be covered with soil, as they require light to germinate effectively.
The seeds will typically germinate rapidly, often within 24 to 48 hours, especially if the container is covered with a plastic dome or cling film to retain humidity. After germination, remove the cover and place the tray under a bright light source. Consistent moisture is the most important factor for young cress, which is highly susceptible to drying out. Use a fine mist sprayer or a watering can with a delicate rose to keep the medium consistently moist without dislodging the delicate seedlings.
Harvesting for Maximum Yield
Cress is ready for harvest quickly, usually within one to two weeks after sowing, when the seedlings have reached a height of two to four inches. Harvesting at this young stage ensures the leaves have their most tender texture and a fresh, peppery flavor. To maintain the possibility of a second harvest, use clean, sharp scissors to snip the stems about half an inch above the soil line.
Cutting too close to the base of the plant may inhibit any potential regrowth, while cutting too high leaves too much stem, which is less desirable. If you are growing cress on a soilless medium, regrowth is less likely due to the lack of nutrients, so it is often better to start a new batch. For a continuous supply of fresh cress, sow a new small batch of seeds every seven to ten days. This staggered planting approach ensures that a portion of your crop is always reaching the ideal harvest size.