Sowing

• Cress is easy to grow and can be grown all year round directly into the growing container that should be wider than it is deep.
• Take a wide pot/tray and fill it wtith moist cocopeat.
• Sprinkle the cress seeds evenly on top of the moist growing medium without overcrowding and cover the seeds with a light sprinkling of the same growing medium.
• Make sure that the seeds are not buried deep.
• Water the setup immediately and by misting it with a spray can. Ensure that the seeds do not get uncovered or displaced.
• Ensure tha the pot remains moist at all times by misting it regulalry.

Caring

• Keep the growing container in a warrm place. The seeds will sprout in 1-2 days.
• Never waterlog the growing medium, just ensure that it is moist at all times.
• Once the sprouts emerge, keep the growing container in an area with bright indirect light.
• Shoots will appear in 5-7 days and they can be harvested as microgreens for salads at this point.
• You can keep the cress seeds growing for longer, it can grow upto 6-7 inches in 4-5 weeks.
• Don’t worry even if the sprouts flower, they are edible too.

Common Problems

1. Why is my cress not growing?
If they are not sprouting at all you either have old seed or the seed was not treated right. Seeds need moisture to grow, but they also need air. ... Cress is in the mustard family so it should sprout within 4 or 5 days. If less than half your seeds sprout you probably have old seed.

2. What are the brown spots on my cress plant?
The brown spots are due to a fungal infection that festers in warm humid weather. To avoid it, treat the seeds in hot water before planting and use a medium with good drainage and devoid of any rotting organic matter.

3. Whay are my seedlings dying after germination?
The dying off of seedlings after germination is called damping-off and can be caused by temperature and mositure imbalance. To avoid this use pathogen free seeds and shallow plant them in sterilized soil and apply mild fungicide as a preventive measure.