Garden Cress ( Lepidium ) Seeds

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seeds are a popular choice for home gardeners due to their rapid growth and nutritional benefits. They thrive in cool-season conditions, ideally between 10°C and 20°C, and prefer well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. To cultivate, scatter the seeds thinly on the soil surface, covering them lightly or pressing them in, with a spacing of 1 inch between seeds and thinning to 3-4 inches apart as they grow. These seeds germinate within 5-7 days, requiring consistently moist soil and 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Garden cress can be harvested 14-21 days after sowing when the leaves are 2-4 inches tall, making it a quick-growing addition to salads and sandwiches with its peppery flavor.