Watercress - refers to vegetable plants, has a slightly bitter taste. It is now becoming more popular. The unusual taste is due to the presence of mustard oil in the green parts of this herb.
The beneficial properties of this greenery have been known since ancient times. Hippocrates spoke about the healing properties of watercress, its ability to purify blood and exert a general strengthening effect on the whole organism. In ancient Egypt, with its help improved men's health and increased potency.
Due to its unpretentiousness, it increasingly appears on the beds and windowsills of the inhabitants of Russia.
Watercress Description
This plant is grassy, it happens one and biennial. It is attributed to diet.
Watercress has several names: watercress, sowing klopovnik, Tsitsmat. It belongs to the Crucifer family, the genus Klopovnik. He is native to Iran, but also grows in natural conditions in Egypt, Ethiopia and Asia. It was known in the camps of the Mediterranean basin in the period of Ancient times, the first successful attempts to cultivate it arose there.
The height of the bush can be from 30 to 60 cm. Its root is simple. Leaves as shoots are painted in a light green tint. Flowers can have a different color, there are: white and pink. After abundant flowering in June-July, fruits similar to pods appear. Prefers to grow in sunny or slightly shaded areas. Likes neutral or slightly acidic soil with a high content of nutrients, moderate watering. Propagated by seeds.
There are several subspecies of the plant: sowing, with whole leaves and with curly. They all differ from each other in appearance.
So curly watercress has a half-raised outlet, and its leaves are extremely unusual, carved. The diameter of the bush is about 15-17 cm. The most common varieties of this variety: "Openwork", as well as early and mid-ripening.
In a salad with whole leaves, the rosette is flatter and larger in diameter and can reach 20 cm. It can grow up to 5-6 cm in height. Late ripening varieties, for example, "Ducat", belong to this variety. 
Types of Watercress
Sowing cress is a cross between two other species. It has a large, semi-raised rosette, sheets of large-longitudinal, slightly dissected. The varieties with the highest precocity belong to it. For example, "Fun", "Dansky."
Types and varieties of watercress
The table shows the most popular varieties.
| View | Grade | Features |
| With whole leaves | Ducat | Differs in high precocity. From the moment of the appearance of the first shoots to the onset of ripeness (technical), an average of 2 weeks passes. The maximum length is 15 cm in diameter and 25 cm in diameter. The number of leaves varies from 8 to 16, they are large, painted in a light green tint. They have a pleasant mustard aftertaste with a light speck. |
| Broadleaf | Refers to varieties of medium ripeness. You can eat 1 month after planting. It grows very quickly, reaches a length of 12 cm. The leaves are very delicate, green in color, have a pleasant piquant taste. Used in the preparation of meat dishes, fish, and also added to salads. | |
| Curly | Openwork | A variety of medium early ripeness. Ready for use in 3-4 weeks. In height and width it grows up to 25 cm. It can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouses and at home. |
| Curly | Also applies to mid-early varieties, but reaches ripeness later to 40-45 days from planting. The bushes are slightly smaller and reach 20-22 cm in width and height. In food, you can use all parts of the plant, including young shoots until the arrows appear. | |
| Sowing | Fun | It belongs to the varieties of early ripeness, suitable for growing at home, in greenhouses and open ground. It is used as seasoning and to add spiciness to salads. |
| Dansky | The earliest variety of all - ready to eat as soon as 10 days from the moment of the appearance of the first seedlings. Resistant to short-term cold weather, which makes it indispensable for cultivation in Russia. It has a high content of iron and its salts, vitamin C, calcium and iodine in its foliage and stem. | |
| Curled | Also early ripe, has increased productivity. It has a rather pungent taste, similar to mustard. Ready to eat on day 17 from the appearance of seedlings. |
Watercress Growing Methods
There are several different methods for growing watercress: on the windowsill, in the greenhouse and in the open ground. But before you start planting, it is important to prepare the soil and seeds.
This type of herbaceous plant belongs to the most unpretentious to the growing conditions. It can sprout even on a simple paper towel moistened with water. But nevertheless, it is worth observing some rules so that the crop will please with its abundance:
- When landing on the windowsill, it is worth buying land in a specialized store, and not taking it from a personal plot. This is due to the fact that the soil may contain larvae and eggs of the cruciferous flea, which is a pest and damages watercress.
- When planting in open ground, you can not stop your attention on the beds where cabbage or root crops (carrots, beets, garlic, etc.) used to grow. A good crop will not work, it is better to choose another place.
After you have chosen a place for planting, you should pay attention to seed preparation. They are large in the plant, slightly elongated and resemble mustard. They are placed in a container and filled with water, just above the surface. Soak for 10-15 hours. After this procedure, you can start sowing.
Planting watercress for seedlings
It is not always possible to plant watercress in the open ground, but it is very easy to do in an apartment at any time of the year. In this case, you need to regularly sow additionally every 7-10 days. To do this, prepare pots with soil 8-10 cm high. Then seeds are planted immediately in the ground, or they can be sprouted on moistened cotton wool or a paper towel, and then transferred to a prepared container. 
Step-by-step cultivation of watercress from seeds
For this type of cultivation, it is not necessary to use a separate container, watercress feels great in the neighborhood with other vegetable crops and herbs. Any varieties of the aquatic variety of this plant, for example, Ducat, Moscow Region, are well suited.
Growing watercress on a windowsill
It is better to plant seeds from the second half of September, at this time the heat leaves, but the daylight is still long, which will not allow the plant to abruptly grow and fly.
In advance, a container for growing is specially prepared, on its bottom you need to lay cotton or nutrient substrate 2-4 cm thick, sawdust or a layer of earth is poured on top for seedlings or any indoor plants. Then they put the seeds and sprinkle on 1.5-2 cm soil. Gently watered, cover with glass, hardboard or film and cleaned in a dark place until the first sprouts appear.
Watercress grows best at a temperature of + 5 ... +6 ° C, in this range it forms a strong root system. After the first leaves are formed, the covering material is removed and the container is moved to a warmer place with a temperature of + 15 ° C.
It is important to put the pot in partial shade and be sure to turn it on different sides daily. A warm balcony or loggia on the north side of the house is well suited for this method of growing. It is worth paying close attention to watering the plant and not allowing the complete drying of the soil. Spraying from a spray bottle will have a beneficial effect on greenery. The salad is fed with complex fertilizers, superphosphate or Rainbow.
Even if the daylight has become short, the plant does not need additional lighting. You can eat it when the bushes reach a height of 8-10 cm. To do this, they are carefully cut off with sharp scissors near the soil.
Growing watercress in open ground
Sowing in open ground can begin from the second half of April to mid-May. It is important to consider not only time frames, but also temperature conditions: the soil should thaw by at least 4 cm, and the air should warm up to + 6 ... + 8 ° C. If you plan to sow before winter, it is important to carry it out according to the first frost, otherwise the seeds will die.
A slightly acid or neutral earth is best.
After a cabbage or next to it you should not plant, a good harvest will not work, as watercress can be infected with a cruciferous flea from it.
You need to prepare the garden on the eve of autumn: they dig it up and add superphosphate or manure, which has already been re-mixed. In the spring, just before planting, you can additionally fertilize with ammonium sulfate.
On loosened soil, furrows are made with a depth of 0.5 ... 1 cm, with a distance between them of 10 ... 20 cm. The sprouts that have appeared must be thinned out, leaving a radius of 10 cm around each bush.
It is better to plant in partial shade, since in the beds with a lot of light, the plant begins to quickly release arrows and becomes unsuitable for eating.
Watercress is watered regularly, depending on the drying of the substrate. After moistening, you can gently loosen the soil between the bushes. It is necessary to be extremely careful with top dressing after the appearance of sprouts, since the ripening period of the plant is very short and the nitrates that get into it will simply not be able to be processed and harm will result instead of the benefits of its use.
Growing watercress in a greenhouse
The technique for growing this plant in a greenhouse does not differ from that in open ground. It can be planted in spring earlier than in open ground, for example, during long spring frosts. It only needs to be ventilated regularly, starting up fresh air.
Watercress Care Features
The basic rules for caring for this plant are not many. It is important to monitor timely and sufficient watering, but it should not be excessive.
If you fill the plant, it can die, this is especially important when growing lettuce at home, as there is simply no room for excess moisture from a limited capacity.
You also need to choose the right place to land so that it is not too hot and sunny. This also applies to apartments and open ground.
Watercress pests and diseases
Due to its rapid growth, watercress most often simply does not have time to undergo an attack of pests or become infected with diseases.
However, sometimes situations arise when he suffers. The table below summarizes the most common problems caused by various causes.
| Problem | Manifestation | Remedial measures |
| Blackleg Rot | Blackening of the stem and then leaves occurs with increased soil moisture. | Destruction of sick bushes. Planting in the same place in the coming summer is not recommended. |
| Cruciferous flea | The leaves of the plant are gnawed through. | Processing plants with tobacco dust or its decoction. To prevent re-infection, it is worth moving the beds with watercress to a remote place from the Cabbage family. |
Mr. Summer resident informs: useful properties of watercress
Watercress has healing properties: in addition to the high water content in its composition, it is able to quench thirst, as well as a storehouse of vitamin, minerals and trace elements. So it includes: vitamins A, E, K, B, C, Ca, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, choline, iron, zinc and many others.
If you eat this plant daily, then according to modern research, the risk of the appearance of diseases such as prostatitis, cataracts and the appearance of malignant neoplasms is reduced.
Due to the high iodine content, the thyroid gland improves and the possibility of developing its pathology decreases. Its regular addition to the diet normalizes sleep and increases the overall performance of the body. It is very useful to eat it in the spring, when the risk of developing vitamin deficiency is especially high.
However, this miraculous herb is contraindicated for people with problems in the gastrointestinal tract, especially during exacerbations.
You should also not eat more than 4 tablespoons of greens per day, otherwise there may be problems with the digestive tract: diarrhea, diarrhea, stomach pain.
It is important to remember that even the most harmless means should be used in the recommended doses.
Watercress is a wonderful plant that is easy to grow not only in the garden, but also on the windowsill. With proper care, he will delight not only with his excellent taste, but also with the appearance of the bushes, because he is very beautiful.
