Watercress: growing
Carotene, vitamins C and B group, mustard oil and trace elements – this is not a complete list of what is contained in watercress. It belongs to early maturing, grows in any conditions and on any soil, undemanding to light and heat. That is why many people think about how to learn how to grow and properly care for a plant.
The best time to plant watercress is in autumn, but there are cases of planting and germination of seeds in winter. Before this procedure, the soil must be prepared: cleaned of weeds, dig up, add manure and fertilizers.
Watercress is the most undemanding and unpretentious, as well as the earliest representative of this type of greenery, but in taste and aroma it is not inferior to others
Watercress seeds can be purchased at any specialty store.
They are sown in rows to a depth of 0,5-1 cm, the distance between them should be at least 15 cm. After 1-2 weeks, lettuce can be sown between the rows.
“This plant does not tolerate heat and a lot of sunlight, so it is better not to plant lettuce in the summer. At this time, you can grow it at home – on a windowsill or in another cool place “
It is important to water the plant abundantly and regularly, as it does not tolerate drought. Only by observing these simple rules, you can get a rich harvest of greenery – up to 2 kg per 1 square meter.
If you don’t want to give up healthy homemade greens in the winter or hot period, then you can start growing watercress at home. For this purpose, a window sill or even a kitchen cabinet is suitable – the plant does not require sunlight. You will need any container – a bowl, a deep plate, a food container. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- At the bottom of the dish, you need to place a substrate – cotton wool, a sponge or a paper towel, then soak it a little with water.
- Place the seeds in an empty, clean container, cover with a little water (so that the water covers each grain).
- Pour the water and seeds onto the substrate in such a way that they lay in one layer and evenly.
- Cover the top with a plastic bag or cling film and place in a cool and not very bright place.
Within two days you can see the sprouts. When they appear, you can remove the film and water regularly, as well as spray the seeds from a spray bottle. Rotate the sprout bowl 180 degrees each morning so that they do not stretch to one side. After 2 weeks, the plant will reach a height of 6-10 cm, which indicates that the greens are ready for use.
Watercress can be easily grown both at home and in the garden, and the process itself will delight not only housewives, but also children. These are very healthy greens that can be eaten fresh on their own or added to salads and snacks.