Cress ‘Wrinkled Crinkled’

Lepidium sativum

Features

  • Dryable
  • Easy to grow
  • Edible
  • Foliage & Filler
  • One-hit wonder

Description

Cress is typically marketed as a salad green, however, if allowed to go to seed, it makes a bulletproof, versatile filler. Graceful, silvery panicles are covered with shimmery seedpods. Cress is durable and ages well, turning golden at the end of the season. A must-grow for late-season mixed bouquets and fall wreaths, as it can be used either fresh or dried.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 50 to 60 days
Plant spacing: 2 to 4 in
Pinch: do not pinch

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed, or direct-seed as soon as the ground can be worked. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest. Don’t pinch plants.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when seedpods are fully formed and the top blooms have faded. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Seed heads can be dried and used indefinitely. To dry, hang upside down in a warm, dark place until firm.

Details

Description

Cress is typically marketed as a salad green, however, if allowed to go to seed, it makes a bulletproof, versatile filler. Graceful, silvery panicles are covered with shimmery seedpods. Cress is durable and ages well, turning golden at the end of the season. A must-grow for late-season mixed bouquets and fall wreaths, as it can be used either fresh or dried.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 50 to 60 days
Plant spacing: 2 to 4 in
Pinch: do not pinch

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed, or direct-seed as soon as the ground can be worked. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest. Don’t pinch plants.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when seedpods are fully formed and the top blooms have faded. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Seed heads can be dried and used indefinitely. To dry, hang upside down in a warm, dark place until firm.

Sources

How to Grow

How to Grow

Fabulous Foliages and Fillers
Easy-to-grow Hardy Annuals
Grasses, Grains, and Pods
Discovering Dried Flowers
Fabulous Foliages and Fillers
Easy-to-grow Hardy Annuals
Grasses, Grains, and Pods
Discovering Dried Flowers

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.