Let's look at some secrets for growing watercress on a windowsill. Watercress is a common plant in European cuisine. Its thin stems and small leaves are unappealing, but they conceal its flavor and benefits. Growing watercress on a windowsill is possible in both winter and summer. For this purpose, use soil, napkins, or cotton wool.
Selection of soil and seed material
Specialty stores offer numerous varieties of this vegetable crop. Plants differ in leaf shape, color, and flavor. Examples of popular varieties are easy to find on specialized forums.
As with other crops, cress thrives in soil enriched with additives (specialized mixtures for growing flowers and seedlings) and in artificially produced substrate.
Planting in soil
For sowing vegetable seeds, we recommend using a specialized Biosoil mixture or soil prepared by hand from garden soil with the addition of peat.
It's important to pre-bak garden soil using an oven. This will kill any pests suspected of infesting the soil. Another way to reduce the risk of infestation is to treat the soil with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).
The depth of the nutrient soil for planting, as shown in the photo, is up to 5 cm. The bottom is covered with drainage materials such as expanded clay or crushed stone. Before planting, the soil is moistened. The seeds are distributed evenly over the surface and covered with a layer of moistened soil to a depth of 0.5 cm.
Planting in artificial substrate
Some apartment gardeners dislike the process of preparing natural soil. Experience shows that growing watercress on a windowsill is possible without soil. A non-natural substrate, easily found in most homes, is suitable.
Sowing seeds in artificial soil is carried out according to the following scheme:
- place the substrate on the bottom of the container;
- mix the seeds with water (30 ml is enough);
- Spread the wet seed material over the substrate.
Planting is easier with cotton wool. This is because the material retains moisture longer without losing its appearance.
Features of germination
There's no difference between germinating the selected planting material in natural or artificial soil. Initially, the container with the planted seeds is covered with plastic wrap and placed out of direct sunlight. Once the first sprouts appear, the seedlings are moved to a balcony windowsill—it's easier to maintain the right temperature here for proper plant development.
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Secrets of proper care
The growing season of watercress is short, so the plant does not have time to absorb the amount of beneficial additives from the soil.
Important! When growing watercress on a windowsill in a napkin or other artificial substrate, it is recommended to mix the water used to soak the seeds with fertilizer. Some gardeners dispute the need for additional fertilizer, citing the short growing season.
Watering vegetables is no different from watering other crops, such as vegetables and salads. The soil should be kept moderately moist.
Watercress isn't demanding when it comes to light. The plant grows vigorously and produces foliage even in winter conditions with limited natural light. The video shows watercress plants grown in summer and winter. As you can see, there's no difference between them.
The plant's greens are harvested when the shoots reach 10 cm in height. The upper part of the stem with leaves is used.