Land cress
Barbarea verna
Also known asUpland cress · American cress · Creasy greens · Belle Isle cress · Early yellowrocket · Winter cress
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4–9 (winter low around -34°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: light.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Net pot, no medium (Bare-root) | - | - | - |
| 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 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.1 |
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
An easy cool-season hydroponic green for salad production. EC 1.0-1.8 mS/cm. pH 6.0-7.0. Temperature: 5–20°C (cold-loving; above 24°C, the plant bolts rapidly and the leaves become unpleasantly pungent). Low to moderate light (DLI 10-16 mol/m2/day). NFT, DWC, or raft systems. From seed to baby leaf harvest: 3-4 weeks. Full rosettes: 6-8 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for cut-and-come-again production. The peppery flavor is a useful addition to salad mixes, providing the watercress-like bite that many consumers enjoy. Succession plant every 3 weeks for continuous supply. Land cress is one of the best crops for winter hydroponic production in minimally heated greenhouses: it thrives in cold that would kill lettuce and produces spicy, flavorful salad greens through the shortest, coldest days. Pests are minimal. For aquaponics systems that operate year-round including winter, land cress fills the cold-season production gap when warm-season crops are dormant.