Garden cress
Lepidium sativum
Also known asCurly cress · Peppergrass · Pepperwort · Mustard cress · Halim
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–11 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- frost hardy
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: light.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.2 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
The fastest harvestable hydroponic crop. EC 0.5-1.5 mS/cm (very light feeder, especially for microgreens). pH 6.0-7.0. Temperature: 10–22°C (cool-season; bolts rapidly above 24°C). Low to moderate light (DLI 8-16 mol/m2/day; for microgreens, even windowsill light is adequate). For microgreens: scatter seed densely on a moist growing pad (hemp, coir, or paper towel), mist daily, harvest at 7-10 days when cotyledons are fully expanded. For baby salad leaves: space seeds in NFT, DWC, or small containers, harvest at 14-21 days. The peppery flavor is most intense in mature leaves and milder in microgreens. Garden cress can be succession-planted every 5-7 days for continuous microgreen production year-round. Each tray of microgreens produces harvestable greens in about a week, making it one of the most rapid-turnover crops available. For commercial microgreen growers, cress is a staple variety. For home growers, it's the fastest path from seed to plate in any growing system.