Monday, January 28, 2013

Garden cress // pieprzyca siewna zwana rzeżuchą



I like to grow garden cress (lepidium sativum) at home. It's easy and takes only 5 or 6 days to harvest. The only and most important factor when growing a garden cress at home is humidity; garden cress likes moist environment.

In Poland it is always called rzeżucha, although the correct name is pieprzyca siewna. The word 'rzeżucha' is so common that even the seed companies name the garden cress that way.
It's usually sowed at Easter to decorate eggs or tables, but it's a great addition to salads, soups or sandwiches through all year. 

The garden cress is slightly spicy in taste and it contains vitamins such as: A, B1, B2, E and PP but also minerals such as: sulpfur, chromium, potassium, manganese, magnesium and calcium. So, it's worth growing in winter when fresh and healthy vegetables from a garden aren't so readily available.


I sowed it on a piece of paper towel and sprinkled with water twice a day. These are my results!


Day 1

 Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6


9 comments:

  1. We always grew cress at school when we were studying plants and wanted something fast maturing.

    Also grew them in empty egg shells filled with cotton wool. The shell had a face painted on it and the cress grew as hair

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    1. I like the idea with egg shells, it sounds funny! :)

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  2. I am going to try and grow some - love it on salads and sandwiches - thanks for the great idea. I use eggs cartons to start seeds too.

    Thanks for sharing
    Regards,
    Mary

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  3. garden cress is more or less like bean sprout right? i never try this one before..:)

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    1. Yes, but in taste it resembles more the radish sprouts, because it's quite spicy :) I highly recommend cress, it's really good.

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  4. I never tried this one before either and saw a package at the seed store not long ago. Must give it a go.

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    Replies
    1. Give it a go, it's a really healthy addition to meals :)

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    2. I found the seeds, growing now, taste test tonight... spicy and wonderful. Huge thank you for this inspiration!!

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  5. I dont think we have the seeds here..

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