Garden cress is harvested and eaten as a seedling. But what if the garden cress grows out? How tall will it be and what will it look like then? Can you still eat the fully grown garden cress? Find out here!

Like watercress, garden cress often has white flowers

Characteristics of adult garden cress

Garden cress can grow up to 60cm high. It grows straight with long stems and narrow leaves several centimeters long. The edges of the leaves are slightly hairy. The leaves are not only longer but also thicker and therefore more fibrous than those of the seedlings.

Can adult garden cress be eaten?

First of all, garden cress is edible, whether as a seedling or as an adult plant. There are probably two reasons why they are mainly harvested as seedling:

  • The leaves are more tender in the young plant.
  • The plant exhibits a milder flavor than the leaves of a mature garden cress.

In general, it is advisable to eat the garden cress before it blooms, because when the garden cress begins to flower, it puts all its energy and nutrients into this task, so that the leaves contain less nutritional value and often have less aroma.

The garden cress is blooming

Garden cress flowers in summer if sown in good time, usually in July/August. The flowers are white to pink and, being cruciferous, have exactly four petals. But don't give up your garden cress just because it's in bloom. After flowering, the really exciting part begins: forming the seeds. Garden cress is healthy, but the seeds are a true miracle cure! So wait patiently until the garden cress forms seeds.

Harvest the seeds of the garden cress

Seeds are ripe when the pods turn yellow and begin to dry. Then proceed as follows:

  • Cut off the pods with a clean knife.
  • Place them on an absorbent surface in a place to dry, such as a heater or in the sun.
  • You can open the pods before or after drying and get the seeds out.
  • Store the whole dried seeds in a dry, dark place.

Use the garden cress seeds

Ground cress seeds can be taken as a medicine to support circulatory problems, indigestion or bacterial diseases. One gram one to three times a day is the recommended daily dose to help heal health problems.

tips

Consume part of the seeds and use another to sow new seedlings.

Category:

Vegetable garden