How to grow Watercress in Australia
Grow in part shade in rich soil kept constantly wet, ideally in shallow flowing or regularly refreshed water. It must never dry out, so stand pots in a tray of water if you have no stream.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Part shade
- Water: 10 litres a week, watered every 1 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 40 days
- Time to germinate: 7 days
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | All year | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | All year | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | All year | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | All year | |
| Adelaide & SA | March to September | Sow Mar to Sep in a pot standing in a tray of water, in part shade. It fails in summer heat, so treat it as a cool season crop. |
| Perth & WA | March to September | Sow Mar to Sep in a pot standing in a tray of water, in part shade. It fails in summer heat, so treat it as a cool season crop. |
| Tasmania | September to March | Sow Sep to Mar in a damp shaded spot. Slows but survives winter. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to April | Sow Aug to Apr in a tub or a wet shaded spot. Midwinter sowing fails in freezing water and soil, but established plants sit through winter and regrow in spring. |
| North Queensland | May to August | Cool dry months only. Water stays too warm Nov to Apr for clean growth. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Cool dry months only. Water stays too warm the rest of the year for clean growth. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick leafy stems once growth is lush and bright green, before flowering. Snip the tops and it keeps regrowing quickly from the cut stems.
Storage
Fridge with stems in water, up to 4 days. Best eaten fresh.