Botanical name : Nasturtium officinale
Common name : Water Cress, Watercress
Easy for seed saving
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination: Cross pollinated by insects
Mating system: Perfect flowers
Suggested spacing: Approx 30cm apart
Seed specific requirements: None
Isolation distance: None unless a named strain
Population size: 5 to 10 plants
Seed maturity: Seed pods are harvested after they have changed colour
Processing method: Dry threshing, sieving and winnowing
Expected seed viability: 5 years
Growing for seed
Named strains of watercress are not common in Australia so generally gardeners do not need to be concerned about isolating the crop to avoid cross-pollination.
Water cress does not need to be grown in water but it does have significant water needs and must be kept moist. However, it will happily grow in ponds if that environment is available.
Selection
Selection is simply for healthy productive plants.
Harvest
Seed is mature when the pods change colour. They are prone to shattering in the garden if left too long so need to be harvested promptly when mature.
Processing
Seed can be separated from the plant material by rubbing the stalks and pods between gloved hands.
Seeds are easily separated from chaff with sieves and winnowing.
Contributors
Liz Worth.