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Nasturtium officinale

Watercress

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Flowers
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Flowers	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

Botanical name: Nasturtium officinale
Common name: Watercress
Family: Brassicaceae
Plant Type: Bog, Herb, Marginal, Perennial, Pond

Flower colour:

White

Foliage colour:

Green

Watercress has peppery leaves, which are commonly used in salads and soups. Although more used to growing wild in flowing streams, watercress can easily be raised in a container or garden pond – as long as its feet are kept wet and the water is replenished every week, you should be able to harvest watercress all year round.

Sow seeds on moist compost in spring, and plant out young plants when all risk of frost has passed. If growing your watercress in a pot, make sure it’s sitting in a tray of water. Alternatively, grow plants in an aquatic pot and place this in the shallows of your pond.

Avoid harvesting watercress from the wild as plants may be harbouring liver flukes, which can be damaging to human health.

How to grow Nasturtium officinale

Plant size

30cm height

20cm spread

Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Boggy
Plant care: Needs regular watering in pots

Plant calendar

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Sow
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sow	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Plant
Plant	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowers
Flowers	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Harvest
Harvest	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D