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Ok ive just discovered a profound liking for watercress and would like to grow some on my lottie, but the water part is a problem, so heres my plan: dig a ditch, stick some crushed chalk in it to keep the water pure, maybe create various levels of water pools to keep water flow, and i can float punnets of watercress in it- please prod and poke my idea in case it is rubbish or needs refinement.
Thanks
John

I'm prettttty sure you can grow watercress in pots in a shady place....

I grow it in my pond! And it over wintered too, last season I mean, though there was a vague concern voiced about liver flute, or something....mm.....can't remember, but I'm fine....no...I am!  ::)

Liver flute!!! Sounds vaguely anatomical... Fluke is the word - nasty business too, but mainly introduced by cattle I believe...

Have you tried land cress or winter cress ROTM?

There was something on "Gardeners Question Time" recently about growing watercress.  You don't need a huge flow of water, so I think your idea is parctical.  They suggested not floating the watercress in punnets, but planting it on shallow "shelves" in the watercourse.

Although it would be expensive to set up, you could install a small solar powered pump to keep the water circulating.  In fact you might be able to use "solar fountains" to maintain an adequate flow.  They're pretty cheap. I guess that you would need to line the trench with pond liner material, otherwise your water will simply disappear.

I think this is a rather an excellent project. Best of luck if you go ahead.  ;D

OK, OK liver fluke .... so picky.. ::)

I found this

http://www.growingedge.com/community/archive/read.php3?c=GH&q=1005

more than any reasonable person needs to know about watercress  :o

I just bunged it in the pond, on a whim really, and it grew, surely you don't no loads f equipment? Or was I just lucky? ???

?

 ;D ;D ;D

Quote from: tim on December 24, 2005, 19:30:57
?

Is that in a greenhouse?  They look super plants, I must say.

Thanks all, i will try it next year and let you know how i get on

Tim's idea is a good one - I tried it with just one pot of watercress in the greenhouse last spring, kept the pot very damp by standing it in a tray that kept I topped up regularly. 
Excellent flavour but very aphid-friendly - a bit like having a nasturtium on steriods :-\!

Must have a go at that - Tim that looks so appetising, love watercress, never tried to grow it though.

Sorry to be late....lost the pic... ::) the bung and hope method.. :)

I am tempted too, I just need to find a watertight tray ...

Cold house - yes.

Lottie - is that a frog lying in wait?

Hope not Tim... poor little blighter should be asleep! I only took this a few days ago... the cress has survived all frosts so far, though may not appreciate the blanket of snow it's now under..

As you have eaten some of your Lottie and you are not dead, I might put some in the pond I haven't got.

I'll check...... nope definitely alive!! And what a great idea, a fantasy pond.....wish I'd thought of that.. ::) ;)

It's definitly just a fantasy - my agreement says I am not allowed my pond so I haven't got one  ;)

Silly me...cos not...don't know what I was thinking of, Ady... maybe something I ate.. ;)

Just to throw another thought into the loop you can actually grow water-cress on land.  Thats right WATER-cress and no not land cress - I know about that.

Grows slower and lower and has a more intense flavour but does grow.  Needs a bit of watering of course but not to excessive levelsso you could try it even without a pond or in any sort of standing water.

Also talking of frogs....whatever happened to you errant tadpole Lottie???????

Bob?? LOL! Bob's fine and dandy, Icy....but think this is probably not the best place to discuss his fungal problems... ::)

Nope definately one for pests and diseases especially as its probably round his tail..

I have watercress in my pond.

I bought an organic bag from the supermarket - one with lots of roots - then popped them in a glass of water on the windowsill. Once it had adequately rooted, I bunged it in the pond. It's now taking the area over. Some rooted and grew up the bank even!

You don't need running water (my pond is totally still) and it does a very good job of keeping the water cleaning as it uses a lot of nutrients. (maybe you could just throw in some oxygenators, but they are dead cheap)

I tried growing some in pots, but the kitchen got very hot one day. east-facing window next year.