Content
- 1 What does watercress look like?
- 2 What does watercress taste like?
- 3 Types and varieties of watercress
- 4 Composition and calorie content of watercress
- 5 What are the benefits of watercress for the body?
- 6 Contraindications and harm
- 7 How to use watercress
- 8 Application of watercress
- 9 How much does it grow
- 10 How to plant watercress
- 11 Storage conditions and periods
- 12 Conclusion
- 13 Reviews of watercress
Watercress is a microgreen with fast ripening time. The first harvest is harvested three weeks after sowing. You can grow it not only on the plot, but also on the balcony. There is a way to cultivate a plant even without soil. Step-by-step instructions and useful tips are described in the article.
What does watercress look like?
Less commonly called garden cress, watercress is an annual plant from the Brassica family. It grows naturally in warm countries - Türkiye, the Middle East. North Africa. In the Russian climate, watercress can be grown in a garden bed in the summer or on a windowsill or in a greenhouse all year round (if suitable conditions are created).
Watercress has a small, thin stem that is light green in color. Small dark green leaves grow in the upper part.They are numerous and form a “green carpet”. The flowers have different colors - from white to pale purple. A bluish coating is often noticeable on the stems and foliage.
The watercress fruit is a small pod and has an oval shape. Seeds can be collected, placed in a fabric bag and stored until next year. Then, with the arrival of spring, watercress can be planted in a greenhouse or on your windowsill.
What does watercress taste like?
Greens have an interesting taste. Watercress is quite piquant, very refreshing, and has slightly spicy undertones. The taste is peculiar, but if you compare it with other plants, you can name radishes, horseradish, mustard.
Unlike classic greens, watercress gives an interesting pungency. It awakens the sense of taste and goes well with neutral foods, such as vegetables. It is worth remembering that fresh watercress has the most vibrant taste. If the plant is frozen, the taste is partially lost. After heat treatment, the beneficial qualities also disappear.
Types and varieties of watercress
There are several varieties of the plant, they differ in appearance, taste, and also in terms of ripening. The most common types:
- Whole-leaved - it can be grown all year round; planting watercress can also be done at home on a windowsill.
- Curly - distinguished by the characteristic appearance of foliage; they have “curls”, making them look attractive.
- Sowing - a group of fast-ripening varieties. They can be grown at home, in a greenhouse or in open ground.
Dansky is one of the most common watercress
The most popular varieties include:
- Dansky is an early ripening variety. It has good germination, spicy and pungent taste.
- Openwork - greenery with large foliage, ripens in a month. The taste is more delicate, without pungency, the aroma is bright and spicy.
- Dukat - ripens even faster, within three weeks. It has a tart, juicy and at the same time delicate taste.
- Spring is an early variety that can be planted in the first half of spring. It ripens in up to three weeks, so it produces up to 4-5 harvests in one season.
Composition and calorie content of watercress
Watercress is a low-calorie product, only 32 kcal per 10 g. Nutritional value for the same weight:
- proteins – 2.6 g;
- fats – 0.7 g;
- carbohydrates – 4.4 g.
The main share is water, almost 90% of the mass. The remaining 10% is dry matter. The plant contains quite a lot of dietary fiber - more than 1 g per 100 g, which is 5% of the recommended daily intake.
The plant contains quite a few valuable components:
- vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K, PP;
- potassium;
- manganese;
- copper;
- iron;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- selenium;
- zinc.
Watercress is especially rich in vitamin C (almost 80% of the daily value of 100), A (40%), K (450%), manganese (30%) and copper (20%). Even if you consume the plant in moderate quantities, you can replenish the body's need for all these substances. But it is worth remembering that after heat treatment, many useful compounds decompose. Therefore, it is better to eat salad fresh.
What are the benefits of watercress for the body?
The beneficial properties of watercress are associated with many aspects. Greens contain various chemicals that have a beneficial effect on the body:
- strengthening the immune system;
- increasing resistance to physical and emotional stress;
- treatment of cough, sore throat;
- strengthening the heart and blood vessels;
- normalization of pressure;
- removal of toxins, waste;
- help with weight loss;
- getting rid of parasites in the intestines;
- prevention of cancer;
- normalization of hormonal balance;
- calming effect;
- treatment of insomnia;
- getting rid of depression.
The plant contains vitamins, microelements and fiber
This substance is involved in the processes of fetal formation. Therefore, the plant should be consumed regularly by pregnant women.
Contraindications and harm
The watercress plant contains substances that cause a pungent taste. Therefore, it should not be used by patients with gastritis and colitis. Sometimes people may have an individual intolerance to one or another component of the plant. This is manifested by allergic reactions:
- itching;
- skin rash;
- swelling;
- redness.
The harm of watercress greens may also be due to the fact that when consumed in large quantities, especially on an empty stomach, irritation of the mucous membrane may occur. This is accompanied by pain, digestive disorders and other side effects. If such symptoms occur, salad is excluded from the diet. In extreme cases, seek medical attention.
How to use watercress
The watercress plant is best consumed fresh - in salads, as an addition to a side dish, vegetable, cheese, or cold cuts. It can be put into a sandwich, hamburger and other dishes:
- omelette;
- soup;
- sauce;
- casserole.
Fried watercress is especially tasty - it retains its tenderness and spicy flavor. But when stewed and boiled, the taste is lost.
Greens are used as a complement to vegetable and meat dishes
Application of watercress
The watercress plant is used not only in cooking, but also for other purposes, for example, as an additional treatment for various diseases, as well as in cosmetology. The main use cases are described below.
In folk medicine
In medicine, the plant is used to treat various disorders:
- intestinal parasites;
- stomach upsets;
- mouth disinfection;
- skin rashes;
- thyroid disorders;
- osteoporosis.
To get the maximum benefit from the watercress plant, it is recommended to eat 2-3 tablespoons of chopped greens daily, i.e. no more than 30-40 g. It is best to do this on a full stomach. You should not consume greens in large quantities - otherwise side effects may appear.
In cosmetology
The watercress plant is also used for external use. With its help, age spots are lightened and the skin is rejuvenated. You can make cosmetic ice - chop the herbs, add water and lemon juice, pour into a mold and put in the refrigerator. This will create cubes that are used to wipe the skin in the morning. This helps tone and smooth out wrinkles.
Lettuce-based oil is used for the same purposes. It is obtained independently from crushed seeds of the watercress plant and vegetable oil 1:2. Leave for two days and strain.The finished composition can also be bought in the store.
How much does it grow
Watercress ripens very quickly - the greens of some plant varieties can be harvested, for example, the Flagman variety can be harvested within two weeks after germination. Specific ripening times depend on the type of crop:
- Piquant – 16-18 days;
- Dukat – 19 days;
- Tempo – 21;
- Fun – 21-22;
- Chord – 26-27.
When planting watercress, keep in mind that mass shoots appear within a week. Thus, after sowing the seeds of the plant, you can expect to receive a harvest within a period of three to five weeks.
Plants mature about a month after planting
How to plant watercress
Watercress can be grown on a windowsill, as shown in the photo, as well as in a greenhouse. Cultivation in open ground is also allowed. To do this, you need to select fertile soil and create suitable conditions, described below.
Growing watercress at home
You can sprout watercress at home. To do this, just take shallow containers (up to 12 cm) and prepare the soil. It can be purchased in a store or made independently based on garden soil, humus, black peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. First, the soil is spilled with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate or put in the freezer for several days.
The watercress plant grows well at normal command temperatures. If the balcony is insulated and lighting is installed, the crop can be grown in any season, receiving 8-12 harvests per year. If there are no such conditions, it is better to start planting in early April, when there is already enough sunlight and warmth.
The agricultural technology for growing the plant is quite simple:
- First make several drainage holes in the boxes.
- Place small stones in one layer on the bottom of the container.
- Then lay out the soil, moisten it, and level the surface.
- Soak the seeds of the watercress plant in water with a growth stimulator, such as Zircon, for 30 minutes.
- Make small grooves up to 5 mm deep at intervals of 15 cm (if the variety is tall, the distance is slightly larger; if it is short, 12 cm can be used).
- Plant the seeds of the watercress plant at a distance of 2-3 cm, sprinkle with soil.
- Cover with cling film with holes and place on the windowsill.
- Grow at a temperature of 20 to 24 degrees, periodically ventilate and moisten with a spray bottle.
- After the watercress plant has sprung, remove the film and move it to a cooler room - 16 degrees.
- After a week, return the room temperature to 20-22 degrees.
- If necessary, thin out the seedlings, leaving only strong shoots.
Caring for watercress comes down to periodic watering from a spray bottle. If the soil is fertile, it is enough to feed only once. A week after emergence, you can add nitroammophoska - a teaspoon per 10 liters or 0.5 g per 1 liter. Particular attention should be paid to moisture, since even with the slightest drying of the soil, the sprouts begin to wither.
The plant can be grown in ordinary containers
If the balcony faces south or east, there is enough sunlight - you just need to periodically turn the containers with watercress. If the crop is grown in winter or autumn, you should use phytolamps or LEDs. They are hung at a height of 50 cm. If there is not enough space, the lamps are mounted on racks, and boxes with plant sprouts are placed on the shelves.
Growing without soil
Watercress can be grown on a windowsill without soil. In this case, you should proceed as follows:
- Place the plant seeds at the bottom of a small plastic container, a few mm apart.
- Spray the plants with a spray bottle.
- Cover with a transparent lid. Place in a warm place (room temperature).
- After a day, sprouts will appear; they need to be moistened daily or every other day.
- Sprout the plants under the lid until the sprouts emerge, after which the container is opened.
- Harvest after two weeks.
Growing watercress in open ground
Plant seeds are planted in open ground from the end of March (in the south) to mid-April (Siberia, northern regions). Choose a place that is illuminated (partial shade is allowed), dry (not in a lowland), and the soil should be fertile and loose. First, compost or humus is placed into it (up to 10 kg per 1 m2).
The preparation of the soil and the technology for planting a watercress plant are exactly the same - the surface of the bed is leveled, several grooves up to 1 cm deep are marked, the seeds are laid out and sprinkled with soil. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees at night, at first it is necessary to cover with film. Periodically ventilate and moisten with a spray bottle.
Watercress in the greenhouse
Plant seeds can be sown in a greenhouse from late March to mid-April. You can make a small garden bed or use a seedling box. It is convenient to place it on a rack so as not to take up extra space. The landing technology is the same. In the first week, the seeds are covered with film; after the sprouts appear, it is removed and the greenhouse begins to be ventilated to create cool conditions. The watercress plant is harvested after 2-3 weeks.
In a greenhouse, the greenery of a plant ripens in less than a month
Storage conditions and periods
The watercress plant can be stored in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. To do this, the sprouts are placed in a plastic container or bag, making several holes. There is no need to wash or spray, otherwise the greens will begin to rot.
Sprouted plants are stored longest in the substrate. Containers with watercress can be placed on the windowsill, periodically watered with a sprayer and harvested as necessary.
The foliage can also be frozen by first chopping it. Then it will lose its taste, but the shelf life increases to 6-8 months. It is recommended to defrost at normal room temperature.
Conclusion
Watercress has a rather unique taste; it complements vegetable and meat dishes well. The plant should be consumed in moderation so as not to upset digestion. Growing it is quite simple - you can do it on a windowsill with additional lighting all year round.
Reviews of watercress
