Microgreens: ‘Upland Cress’

Grow indoors for a peppery and refreshing flavor…

Cress lovers celebrate! Also known as ‘creasy greens,’ cress is high in vitamins A and C, packing a dose of nutrition as well as being delicious. Add them to your favorite sandwich or try pairing it with egg and mayo, cream cheese, or avocado toast or crackers for the perfect balance of peppery flavor and creaminess. The ‘Upland Cress’ (Barbarea verna) variety is known for its thin, pale green stems with darker green, lobed leaves.

Planting indoors is recommended… a good choice for container gardening.

1. Sow seeds anytime of the year.
2. Plant in sun to part shade. Seeds thrive on a sunny windowsill or near an east-facing window.
3. Plant in a shallow container with 1-2 inches of fine, seed starting mix. Sow seeds in a single layer and cover with 1/4 inch of seed starting mix.
4. Pick when microgreens are ready to harvest– about 14-28 days after sowing; when they have their first leaves (cotyledons); or when the first true leaves (second set of leaves) have begun to form, depending on preference.
5. For a continual crop of cress, sow seeds every 7-14 days.

Credit: Botanical Interests