Growing Watercress in garden pool

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi All
I put a very small pool in my veg garden to encourage things that eat slugs.  It is about 4ft x 2 ft and it is possible to lift and empty it.  (I originally hoped some ducks would help me out with the slug situation, but they spend their lives trying to get to the ducks that live on the big pond - another good idea in principle rather than practice ::))

Can I grow watercress in it.  It is in a shady area beside a hedge, but a long way from the hose, so it wouldn't be easy to arrange to keep renewing the water, though it could be done occasionally.

What does everyone think.  If it is a workable idea I intended to get some supermarket cress with a few roots on and start it from that.

All the best
Sue

[darkbrowneggs]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Probably, but I don't think you need an actual pond for it. As long as it's got its feet damp, I think it's happy.

[saddad]

Land cress is dead easy... if your water cress doesn't take...  :)

[OberonUK]

I dropped a few sprigs of shop-bought watercress (from a salad mix) in my pond last summer and it did remarkably well. It is particularly good as a 'scrubber', helping to keep your water clean and fresh. It did as well when planted in some aquatic soil as when left to float. Just look for sprigs that show root nodules and it should be fine. Mine was!

[goodlife]

If my memory serves me right.. ::)..I thought water cress need clear, slowly running water and ideally near alkaline PH..standing water may have some 'nasty' bacteria lurking in and if topped up just with rain water PH in pond could be too acid...but don't quote me on that..just some info niggling me in back of my mind..I think it is some left over 'stuff' from the time that I was thinking growing some myself with similar set up.
But shade would not do..they will need plenty of light.. :-\

[elvis2003]

Ive grown watercress from seed,nowhere near water,it took a few attempts to germinate mind.one year I grew it in a bed,the next in a pot for easier harvesting. It puts out so many suckers in a bed its a pain,but ok in the pot

[dtw]

You'll probably find that the ducks will stop by, eat it all within minutes and move on.  :D

[pigeonseed]

Are you thinking of liver flukes, goodlife? I think if the pond doesn't connect with livestock it's ok?  :-\
(I mean sheep, rather than ducks!  ;D)

[star]

Ive grown watercress in my wildlife pond, for shading the water and its inhabitants. It goes mad!! And very hardy through the worst winters too. It took ages for me to get rid of it....

[cjb02]

I grew water cress a couple of years ago and I grew it in still pond and it did very well, last year it grew every where near the pond that was just normal soil. I didnt appreciate it selfs seed very well and can grow in just soil no problem. I think it was my best crop.

[queenbee]

I grew watercress from supermarket bought. I grew it on the little waterfall that I had created from my pond. I then read that it could be dangerous to eat as it can become contaminated. I never thought that liver flukes from sheep could cause this so I got rid of it and grew American land cress. We have no sheep within a mile or more from our allotment so I will try again. American land cress was a great alternative and I will certainly grow this again.   

[Robert_Brenchley]

There's no problem if there are no sheep. The fluke has a complicated lifes history, alternating between sheep and aquatic snails. It goes through an early stage in the snail, then emerges 0 still tiny - and forms a cyst on aquatic vegetation. This is picked up by the sheep, or by us if we eat raw vegetation from a damp area. It then feeds on the liver, damaging it.

[small]

Do you want to grow watercress, or find a use for your pool? If it's wanting to grow watercress, then you don't need a pond - I grew it last year in a container, right by my waterbutt so I could keep it sodden, it was wonderful. So much tangier and succulent than land cress (sorry Saddad), definitely one to do again. But if you want to use your pool - no harm in trying!

[goodlife]

I dug this old post up as I happened to come across a article that I've read before that was 'niggling at the back of my mind' with my last answer for this post.
So here we go..
"It's not a good idea to eat watercress found growing in the wild as it's likely to be polluted and may carry liver fluke"
"To avoid pollutants watercress is grown on washed gravel and nourished with pure fresh spring water" and from other source...
"only those whose gardens contain a chalk or limestone spring or pure stream are able to produce a safe crop, as any pollution in the water will endanger the eater."
If those conditions are too difficult, growing Land cress is perfectly good alternative.
There..I got that off my chest.. ::) Now I remember why I didn't venture to watercress growing.. ::)

[Larkshall]

Do you want to grow watercress, or find a use for your pool? If it's wanting to grow watercress, then you don't need a pond - I grew it last year in a container, right by my waterbutt so I could keep it sodden, it was wonderful. So much tangier and succulent than land cress (sorry Saddad), definitely one to do again. But if you want to use your pool - no harm in trying!

You're quite right, it doesn't need to be in water, just don't let it dry out. I've grown it in pots and tubs, keep the compost fairly wet and it's OK.

[InfraDig]

I grow Mr Fothergill's Salad Bar range Watercress Aqua in pots, even over the winter. It just needs watering like, say, lettuce. It seems happy enough, and is very tasty!

[Alex133]

Glad I read this - there's a stream near me with watercress and I've often thought of picking some - as there are sheep in the field next to it will definitely resist the temptation.