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Organic Gardening:

How to grow organic Land cress

A dry land version of watercress!

Land cress (American cress)

Barbarea verna

Family: Cruciferae (Group 2)

Land cress, also called American cress is that rare find - a vegetable that actually prefers shade. This makes it ideal for growing underneath a tall crop, such as Jerusalem artichokes, runner (pole) beans or sweetcorn, even sunflowers. It tastes a lot like watercress and is used mainly as a substitute for it, but can also be used sparingly in salads, as a spinach substitute, or turned into an excellent soup.

Site/soil

Land cress will tolerate moist soil and shady situations. The summer crop is best grown in light shade. It does best in fairly rich soils. As a member of the brassica genus which is prone to soil infections, for example Clubroot, it's important to use a minimum 3 year rotation plan.

Cultivation

Sow direct 2.5-5cm (½-1") deep in rows 15-18cm (6-7") apart, in July and August for supplies from autumn to spring and in March to June for a summer supply.

Thin to the final spacing of 8"x6" or 7"x7". The thinnings can be used in, for example, egg and cress sandwiches.

Flea beetle can be a problem in the early stages. Use crop covers such as fleece to prevent access.

For a more tender winter crop, transplant a few August-grown seedlings under cover.

Harvest

First pickings can begin about 8 weeks after sowing. Pick outer leaves from young plants and heart leaves from older ones. Remove flower stalks as they appear and cover with cloches in autumn.

After the first year, you never need buy another packet of seed, as a few plants left to run to seed will seed themselves. You just need to transplant the seedlings to their new position.

Note on clubroot

Soil may remain infected for 20 years; steps to avoid introduction include:

good drainage
rotation
liming acid soils to a pH around 7
working in high levels of organic matter
ensuring clean plants are used - source must be known to be free of disease (best grown at home in sterile medium)
boots and tools used on infected land must be thoroughly cleaned before use on clean land

Once infected avoid growing any brassicas except fast maturing types such as Texsel greens or cut and come again oriental seedlings. If you have no other land available, and you must grow types with a lengthy growing season, you can try sowing seed in modules, and potting up until the plants reach a height of 10cm (4") before planting out. A root drench may also help.

If you're interested in healthy food, you may also be interested in our sister site, The Health Site, Your Online Health Channel.

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