Garden Cress (Lepidium Sativum) 3000 seeds (#870)

Garden cress is a fast-growing, edible herb. Can be sown year long every 2 weeks in the pots inside.
A very easy and fast crop, it can be ready within 7 days from sowing the seed
It is genetically related to watercress and mustard, sharing their peppery, tangy flavor and aroma. In some regions, garden cress is known as mustard and cress, garden pepper cress, pepperwort pepper grass, or poor man's pepper.
This annual plant can reach a height of 60 cm (~24 inches), with many branches on the upper part. The white to pinkish flowers are only 2 mm (1/12 of an inch) across, clustered in branched racemes.
Garden cress is commercially grown in England, France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Edible shoots are typically harvested in one to two weeks after planting, when they are 5–13 cm tall.
Garden cress is added to soups, sandwiches and salads for its tangy flavor. It is also eaten as sprouts, and the fresh or dried seed pods can be used as a peppery seasoning (haloon).
In England, cut cress shoots are commonly used in sandwiches with boiled eggs, mayonnaise and salt. Garden cress can grow almost anywhere.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils. For the best results, however, it requires a moist soil and also some shade during the summer to prevent it running straight to seed.
Garden cress is often cultivated as a sprouted seed. A very easy and fast crop, it can be ready within 7 days from sowing the seed. It can also be grown outdoors as full grown plants and can provide fresh leaves for the salad bowl all year round from successional sowings.
Plants can be overwintered outdoors to provide edible leaves all year round, though they will require some protection if temperatures fall below -5C.
Approximately 3000 seeds in 10g packet.

Genus - Lepidium
Species - Sativum
Common name - Garden Cress
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 10
Height - 0,20 - 0,40 m
Plant type - Annual or biennial herb
Exposure - Full Sun, semi shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - acid, neutral and basic (alkaline)
Soil type - light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay)
Water requirements - Average, high
Landscape uses - Garden cress can grow almost anywhere. Garden cress is often cultivated as a sprouted seed. Edible
Bloom season - June - August
Leaf / Flower color - Green / white to pinkish

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
If you want a succession of young leaves then it is possible to sow the seed in site every 3 weeks in succession from early spring to early autumn. Germination is very rapid, usually taking place in less than a week.
When sowing seed for use in mustard and cress, the seed is soaked for about 12 hours in warm water and then placed in a humid position.
Traditionally, it is sown in a tray on a thin layer of soil, or on some moist blotting paper, and the tray is placed in a warm dark place for a few days to encourage rapid and rather etiolated growth.
The seedlings can then be placed in a lighter position for a couple more days to turn green before being eaten.
The cress seed should be sown about 3 - 4 days before the mustard for them both to be ready at the same time. (info source: pfaf.org).