Tips for Growing Watercress
Once you have found out the benefits of growing watercress, you will be more than happy to eat every one of vegetables just as Mom always said you should.
Watercress, also known as Nasturtium officinale isa part of the cabbage family. It is an aquatic type plant with a peppery taste.
There’s a chance you haven’t heard a lot regarding growing watercress, but it has been proven to be one of the oldest vegetables consumed by man. Known as the original super food owing to all the amazing health advantages watercress can provide you.
Going back to the time of At around 400 BC, Hippocrates, (the father of medicine), was growing watercress to help treat his subjects. Greek soldiers were forced to eat watercress immediately before battle in order to increase vigor. (Not by their parents!) Emperors of Rome claimed that it helped.
To begin growing watercress from seed, the best way of doing things is tosow the seeds inside the house a couple of weeks just before the last frost is expected. place a piece of kitchen towel into the bottom of a small bowl , then lightly dampen it. Place a handful of the seeds on the towel and pour in about half a centimeter of filtered water.
If the seeds remain damp and warm, they should hopefully germinate after about seven to ten days. Three weeks after germination, the watercress will be ready to be transplanted ~outside~outdoors}.
Watercress can be planted either in plant pots, or in the earth, but you should make sure that the soil remains saturated. Use a rich mix of moist soil, limestone, and organic compost for growing watercress.
Watercress thrives best in water (hence the obvious title). This year round plant is found wild along small creeks and streams. Naturally, the plant is slightly submerged in shallow water, the base of the plant in the water, and the top half above the water. Not to worry, you do not have to go out and buy a lake or pond to grow your watercress on.
Watercress is a fast growing plant, and is easy to grow in the house in plant pots that are placed carefully into a container of water. Keep the plants moist at all times while growing watercress. The trick is keeping the plants damp not over watered, because too much water can kill it. Watercress enjoys full sun, but grows faster not reach by direct sunlight. The ideal place for growing watercress is in partialshade.
As watercress should only be kept refrigerated for one week, leaves and stems should be harvested shortly before use. When growing watercress, cut leaves and stems before flowers begin to bloom.
Growing Watercress health benefits…
Watercress is a vegetable with high levels of natural disease fighting properties. It is packed with nutrients called phytochemicals, a group of cancer fighting compounds. These potent antioxidants help to strengthen your body’s immune system, which in turn protects from heart disease.
The major amount of lutein discovered in this plant are another benefit of growing watercress. Lutein is well known to be helpful in stopping the development of coronary artery disease and heart failure.
This unique vegetable is also loaded with vitamins, and low in calories, with only four calories per cup. When you eat watercress, the peppery heat of the leaves acts as a stimulant for your digestion
Ideas for using watercress—
How about throwing in watercress to your next smoothie, to give it that extra kick? Watercress can also be served in sandwiches (think egg & cress). Chop watercress into little pieces and mix it with cream cheese and chives. Taste the distinctive flavor by adding to your salad.
Soup flavor can be enhanced with the addition of watercress - cut finely and cooked with veg or chicken stock. Try adding watercress to your favourite stir fry or omelet.
As you know by now, watercress isn’t just a piece of greenery on the side of your plate at fancy restaurants (it’s actually one of the main ingredients used in V8 vegetable juice).
Now, go make your Mother proud by growing watercress.