The end of a dream - however small.

[tim]

The idea was to grow our own cress - which we consume by the bucket. 15p a punnet.
Simple - just sow on layers of kitchen roll - keep watered - & in 2 weeks you're in business.

So - bought several packets of seed & set off. As I was sowing the stuff, I noticed the price of the seed. £1.49. Will do '6 punnets'?? That's 25p/punnet. That's not saving much? Now I see it is 'Organic' seed!!

But then, one day, it was hot & I forgot to water.

Back to Tescos!!

[tim]

[wattapain]

Yes Tim, I've had much the same experience. Like you, I love cress & eat it by the bucketful. I tried with the kitchen paper etc and sometimes it's been OK, but as you say, just forget to water and you're back to square one.  ::)
Back to tesco's indeed.
Terri

[sandersj89]

I grow it on spent compost and keep the tray out of direct sun light on the kitchen window sill.

The kids love it as they can almost see it grow by the minute. It is not my 8 year olds task to keep us supplied!

Jerry

[Marianne]

Awww what a shame Tim !  Never mind, back to the drawing board and you will bucketfulls in no time ! Good luck!  :D ;)

[Svea]

i thought i was the only one able to kill off cress seed ;D
i feel less stupid now

was gonna do some into one of my window boxes on the balcony - do they grow proper roots and to a good size if grown in soil?

[tim]

I'm sure they would - but a waste of soil??

[moonbells]

I'm sure they would - but a waste of soil??

Have you tried growing it on tissue which is itself on top of capillary matting? Then it won't get too wet but you can leave the end of the matting in an empty marg tub of water and top it up once a week or so.

moonbells

[Svea]

no tim, that soil is actually spare :D

well, unless people can think of other fast growing crops for my window box? what is the difference between normal cress and land cress, for instance? etc etc

[Robert_Brenchley]

Have you thought of sprouting seed? Get sunflower seed or whatever from a whole food shop, let it germinate in a warm place for a few days, and eat it. It's full of goodness.

[Meg]

Found better results with cotton wool as the kitchen paper doesn't retain the water at all, then it doesn't matter if you forget to water them. I use margarine tubs etc and put the cooton wool in the bottom and even I have had good results.

[tim]

Some good thinking there. Especially as I'm the capillary matting ace!!

Land cress? Great stuff. Self-seeds at the drop of a hat. But not quite the stuff for the windowsill?

[rosebud]

What about the good old fashioned blotting paper, brilliant stuff, also when you buy from Tescos save the container and put a tiny tiny amount of water gell in underneath whatever you use and bobs your uncle no problems ;D ;D ;D.

[tim]

Funny - just sold off 40 A1 sheets of 'blotch' yesterday!

Robert - yes - love seeds, but cress is diferent!

[Dorthe]

Use cotton instead of kitchen paper.

It never fails me. And I put a lot more seeds on it ;-)

Water the cotton, then drizzle the seeds on top.
After that just water on it each morning (and evening if it is dry.)

Then in less than 1 week, you have yummy cress.