How to Grow Land Cresses

At a Glance

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Drainage	Moist but well-drained
Lifecycle	biennial
Edible parts	leaves

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing and germination	0	Sow direct outdoors from early spring through autumn, thinly in drills about 0.5cm deep, rows 15cm apart; germinates in 7-10 days at 10-20°C (PlotMyGarden).
Rosette establishment	1	Rosette of deeply-lobed, dark green leaves develops in full sun to partial shade; partial shade preferred in summer to avoid bolting (RHS, PlotMyGarden).
Cut-and-come-again harvest	3	Leaves are cropped nearly year-round with staggered sowings; avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal disease risk (PlotMyGarden).
Second-year flowering	6	In spring or summer of its second year, upright stems bear clusters of small yellow four-petalled flowers (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: RHS: "cropped virtually all year by staggering sowing dates"; plant outdoors "when large enough to handle (around 10in/25cm in height)". UMD: sow in March or September, "harvest at a few inches tall".

Storage

Best used fresh

Pests

Flea beetles

Chrysomelidae: Alticini (various spp.)

What the research guides add

Land cress is also sold as American cress, and the RHS notes it can be cropped almost all year.

• Grow in moist soil in full sun or semi-shade. It can be cropped virtually all year by staggering sowing dates. (RHS)
• Sow seed thinly in seed trays or small pots, and plant outdoors when large enough to handle (around 10 inches or 25 cm in height) in rows 12 inches (30 cm) apart. (RHS)
• It may be susceptible to flea beetle, and is otherwise generally disease-free. Other names include American cress, winter cress and early winter cress. (RHS)

Sources for this section

• Royal Horticultural Society: Barbarea verna (American cress)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

1. GBIF - GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Barbarea verna
2. PlotMyGarden - Land Cress growing guide

   Sow direct outdoors from early spring through autumn, thinly in drills 0.5cm deep, rows 15cm apart; germinates in 7-10 days at 10-20°C. Can be cropped virtually all year with staggered sowing dates. Prefers partial shade, especially in summer, since hot sun and dry conditions cause rapid bolting and bitter, tough leaves. Avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal disease risk.

These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 5 sources behind this guide (GBIF, PlotMyGarden, Royal Horticultural Society and others) is in the references of our UK guide to land cress; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.