Cress is an easy-to-grow microgreen that is filled with nutrients. This delicious microgreen is one of the most popular microgreens on the market. Its unique peppery flavor and leaf structure make it the perfect addition to soups, salads, smoothies, and when used as a garnish.
Below you will find the pertinent information about cress microgreen. Our quick informational table allows you to quickly find the information that you need.
| Attribute | Profile |
| Flavor | Cress microgreens are slightly bitter with bold, peppery undertones. |
| Pre-Soak (Yes/No) | No presoaking is necessary. |
| Color | Cress microgreens have white stems and pale green leaves. |
| Germination Time | Cress germination times are 3 to 4 days. |
| Harvest Time | Cress can be harvested in 8 to 12 days. |
| Green Thumb Level (1-5) | 1 – Cress is extremely easy to grow, making it a great choice for novice microgreen gardeners. |
Cress microgreens are easy to grow. Our step-by-step guide will provide you with all the information that you need to grow tasty cress microgreens in a little over a week.
Whether you are new to microgreen gardening or you have been growing microgreens for a long time, you may have questions. We have gathered the most frequently asked questions about growing cress microgreens.
No, cress microgreens will not regrow after harvesting. After harvest, compost the growing medium and roots. Then, plant a fresh batch of cress microgreens.
Cress is a fast-growing type of microgreen. You can expect to harvest cress microgreens within a week to two weeks from planting.
Cress is filled with vitamins and minerals that promote health. Cress microgreens contain large amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and a plethora of minerals that improve immunity, enhance health, and increase longevity.
Raw cress microgreens are delicious in salads and on sandwiches. They add a hint of peppery flavor to your favorite salads. Cress microgreens can also be added to soups and stews at the end of the cooking cycle.
Cress microgreens are easy to grow and only require a few simple supplies. Although cress microgreens can be grown hydroponically or in soil, we recommend growing in coconut coir. Coconut coir is a soilless growing medium that helps regulate moisture levels to reduce the risk of mold and other soilborne diseases.
A starter kit has the equipment you need to begin growing microgreens. True Leaf Market's Deluxe Microgreens Starter Kit provides you with growing trays, growing medium, seeds, and a misting bottle.
If you prefer, you can purchase individual pieces of equipment. You will need the following equipment to grow cress microgreens.
There are a variety of growing mediums that can be used for cress microgreens, including seed starting potting soil and coconut coir. We recommend using coconut coir as the growing medium for cress microgreens.
Coconut coir is made from the husk of coconuts. The coir is ground up into a soil-like substance. Coconut coir retains moisture and is insect neutral. This renewable resource is the preferred growing medium for growing cress microgreens.
Seed starting soil contains the nutrients that your seeds need to thrive. The soil is fine-grained, which allows for proper root development. Seed starting soil does not retain moisture like other soilless growing mediums like coconut coir.
You will need three trays for your Cress microgreens. You will use two trays for the bottom and one tray as a humidity dome. When purchasing growing trays, buy two trays without holes and one tray with holes. Typically, microgreen gardeners prefer using the 10 inch by 20 inch grow trays; however, there are other sizes available as well.
The growing tray with holes will be placed inside one of the growing trays without holes. The growing tray with holes will be used to hold the growing medium and seeds. This tray will allow you to water your microgreens from the bottom up.
One of the growing trays without holes will be used to hold water during bottom watering. The other grow tray without holes will be used during the blackout germination process. The tray will be placed upside down on top of your cress microgreen seeds.
A misting bottle is used to gently water your cress microgreens without disturbing the delicate roots of your cress microgreens.
This full spectrum grow light is designed to activate the photosynthesis process for optimal growth. The grow light is placed directly above your microgreens to ensure your cress microgreens grow evenly.
A heat mat keeps the growing medium and seeds at a consistent temperature to optimize germination. Indoor ambient temperatures can be too cool for optimal germination. A heat mat helps counteract these cooler temperatures.
Circulation fans are designed to improve air movement across plants, which decreases the risk of mold and other soilborne diseases. When it comes to circulation fans, you want the fans to gently blow across the microgreens without blowing directly on the soil.
If you are limited on space, a planting rack allows you to store multiple trays vertically. Additionally, a rack allows you to hang grow lights directly above your microgreen trays and place circulation fans, so the air blows horizontally across the microgreens.
Curled Cress – Curled Cress microgreens are perfect for microgreen salads. These microgreens have a defined peppery flavor that pairs well with sweeter microgreens like corn microgreens, carrot microgreens, kale microgreens, and pea microgreens.
Upland Cress – Upland Cress has a unique peppery flavor that is delicious on sandwiches; however, it should only be used sparingly in microgreen salads. Enjoy Upland cress on meat, cheese, or veggie sandwiches.
Our step-by-step growing guide for cress microgreens will ensure you know everything that is needed to effectively grow cress microgreens. Follow our directions for an optimal harvest of cress microgreens.
Begin by placing your growing medium in the grow tray with holes. Fill the tray to slightly below the top of the tray, ensuring the growing medium goes to the edges of the tray.
Use your misting bottle to spray the growing medium. Spray the soil three or four times to get the growing medium moistened. Conversely, you can place your grow tray in a sink with water a couple of inches deep. Allow the grow tray to sit in the water for 10 minutes before removing it.
Once the soil is adequately moistened, place the tray with holes inside one of the grow trays without holes. It is now time to plant your cress microgreen seeds.
You will need approximately 10 grams of seeds for each 10 inch by 20 inch microgreen growing tray. Sprinkle the seeds evenly across the surface of your grow tray. Press the seeds into the soil using your hands or a piece of cardboard.
Once you have sown the cress microgreens, use your misting bottle to gently dampen the cress microgreen seeds. Avoid overwatering as cress microgreen seeds are mucilaginous, which means they form a mucus membrane around the hull of the seed when they are exposed to water. If too much water is used, the germination rate of your cress microgreen seeds will be lower than normal.
Seeds require darkness for proper germination. When seeds are planted in the ground, the seedlings push up through the dirt stretching for the light. Because microgreens are grown in grow trays, you have to mimic the effects of seeds planted deep in the ground.
Once you have sown your cress microgreen seeds, invert the remaining grow tray and place it atop your cress microgreen seeds. Then, place a weight or a heavy book atop the inverted growing tray.
Don't worry, the weight or book will not damage your cress microgreens. In fact, the weight will help strengthen the roots of the cress microgreens for healthy plants.
Then, place your tray of microgreens on the heat mat. The heat mat should be set to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will help increase the germination rate of your cress microgreens. It will take approximately 3 to 4 days for your cress seeds to germinate.
Once 90 percent or more of your cress microgreens have sprouted, remove the top from your cress microgreens. Check the moisture level of the soil and water if needed. Then, place your tray of cress microgreens under the grow lights.
Your grow lights should be approximately 12 inches above the tray. The grow lights will be left on continually throughout the remainder of time until harvest.
The grow lights should be placed directly over the cress microgreens to help ensure the microgreens grow straight and strong. If a grow light isn't used, the microgreens can grow leggy and develop tough stems.
The circulation fans are used to help prevent mold from developing on your cress microgreens. The fans should be left on throughout the growth cycle until the microgreens are ready for harvest.
If the air is pointed downward toward the soil, the soil can dry out too quickly. Instead, the air must blow horizontally across the tops of the cress microgreens.
Knowing when to harvest your cress microgreens is one of the most important things when it comes to growing microgreens. The appearance and flavor of your microgreens can change drastically in a matter of days.
Once the cotyledons have developed, you will need to begin tasting the cress microgreens daily. As soon as they taste the way you want them to taste, withhold watering for 12 hours and then harvest.
Harvest cress microgreens using a sharp knife or a sharp pair of scissors. A sharp knife or scissors will ensure that you cut the microgreen stems without pulling or ripping. If you use a dull knife, you can pull seed husks or soil into your cress microgreens.
As you cut your cress microgreens, gently place them in a single layer across a couple of paper towels. Work as quickly as possible as air exposure can cause your microgreens to wilt.
Once you have harvested your microgreens, it is time to either store the microgreens for personal use, package the microgreens for shipping, or immediately enjoy the microgreens.
If you are using the Cress microgreens immediately, place them in a bowl of cool water. Swirl the microgreens gently to remove any growing medium or seed husks that were still attached to the cress microgreens. Remove the microgreens from the water and place them on a paper towel to dry before use.
If you will be storing your cress microgreens, do not allow any water to touch your microgreens. If you wash your microgreens before storing them, it can cut their shelf life by as much as 50 percent.
Gently wrap your microgreens between two pieces of paper towels and place the microgreens inside a sealed plastic or glass storage container or an airtight storage bag. Then, place the microgreens in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. On average, cress microgreens can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Cress microgreens are super easy to grow when you follow our step-by-step guide on how to grow cress microgreens. Cress is nutrient-dense and pairs wonderfully with other microgreens. Cress microgreens are often enjoyed on sandwiches, in soups, in salads, or used as a garnish.
