Growing Watercress – How to Grow Watercress
After you find out how beneficial growing watercress is, you will be happy to eat every one of vegetables just as Mom always said you should.
Watercress, also known as Nasturtium officinale, a part of the cabbage family. It is a vegetable with a zesty pepper flavor.
Perhaps you haven’t heard a lot regarding growing watercress, but unknown to most, it is one of the oldest vegetables known to human beings. It is called the original super food because of all the important health benefits watercress provides.
In 400 BC, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was growing watercress in order to aid his patients. Soldiers from Greece were forced to eat watercress immediately before battle to increase their vigor. Emperors of Rome said it outdoors.
Watercress can be planted either in pots, or in the earth, as long as the soil stays soggy. Use a rich mix of moist soil, limestone, and organic compost for growing watercress.
As its name implies, it thrives in water. This year round plant grows naturally along streams and creek beds. Naturally, the plant is slightly below shallow water, the base of the plant in the water, and the top half above the water. Not to worry, you do not have to go out and buy a lake or pond to grow your watercress on.
Watercress is a fast growing plant, and can easily be grown inside in plant pots which are placed carefully into a tray of shallow water. Keep the cress moist constantly when growing watercress. The trick is keeping the plants damp not soaked, because too much water can kill them. Watercress enjoys full sun, but grows faster not reach by direct sunlight. The ideal place for growing watercress is in partialshade.
As watercress should only be kept in the refrigerator for a week, leaves and stems should be cut shortly before use. When growing watercress, harvest leaves and stems before flowers begin to bloom.
How growing watercress benefits your health—
Watercress is full of nutrients named “photochemical”, a group of compounds that fight cancer cells. Within this superfood is potent antioxidants, which strengthens your body’s immune system, and helps prevent heart disease
Because of the large amounts of lutein found within watercress, this becomes an extra benefit of growing watercress. Lutein is widely believed to be an aid in stopping heart disease.
This ‘one of a kind’ vegetable is also loaded with vitamins, while being low in calories, with only 4 calories per cup. When watercress is eaten, the peppery heat of the leaves acts as a stimulant for your digestion
Watercress food ideas…
Try watercress in smoothies, to give it an extra kick Watercress can also be served in sandwiches (think egg & cress). The plant can be chopped small and mixed with creamed cheese and chives. Watercress can add flavor to most types of salad.
Soup flavor can be enhanced with the addition of watercress – chopped finely and cooked with veg or chicken stock. Try throwing in some watercress to your favourite stir fry or omelet.
You may have thought watercress was only the greenery on plates served in fancy restaurants. Actually, watercress is one of the main ingredients in V8 Vegetable Juice.
To sum up, it is definitely recommended to start growing watercress. Give it a try.
