Water Cress

I know that Nancy is looking for something that contains Vit. C. that can be easily grown after the pole shift. While hiking recently I came across a huge patch of wild water cress. This small plant grows in water and needs very little light to grow. I have tried to find out the vitamin content but have been unsuccessful. However, here is some information on what it does and what it is. If nothing else, it can be used in conjunction with hydroponic gardens for a fresh salad that grows quickly.

Offered by Mary.

WATER CRESSES

Description : Our ordinary Water Cresses spread forth with many weak, hollow, sappy stalks, shooting out fibres at the joints and upwards long winged leaves made of sundry broad sappy almost round leaves, of a brownish colour. The flowers are many and white standing on long foot-stalks after which come small yellow seed, contained in small long pods like horns. The whole plant abides green in the winter, and tastes somewhat hot and sharp.

Place : They grow, for the most part, in small standing waters, yet sometimes in small rivulets of running water.

Government and virtues : It is an herb. They are more powerful against the scurvy, and to cleanse the blood and humours, provoke urine and woman's courses. The decoction thereof cleanses ulcers, by washing them therewith. The leaves bruised, or the juice, is good, to be applied to the face or other parts troubled with freckles, pimples, spots, or the like, at night, and washed away in the morning. The juice mixed with vinegar, and the fore part of the head bathed therewith, is very good for those that are dull and drowsy, or have the lethargy.

Water-cress pottage is a good remedy to cleanse the blood in the spring, and help headaches, and consume the gross humours winter has left behind; those that would live in health, may use it if they please; if they will not, I cannot help it. If any fancy not pottage, they may eat the herb as a sallad.

Water Cress (Nasturtium Officinale) is a hardy annual that grows naturally in the soil on the banks of cool to cold streams and spring-fed ponds. It can be found all winter long in unfrozen, sheltered areas. This is the same Water Cress that is sold in grocery stores and used in restaurants. You can eat the leaves and stems that you grow. They have a very peppery taste. Waterfowl eat it and fish like it also. The small floating leaves are rounded, dark green and waxy. The branching stems can spread out for 2'-3' over the surface. Slender roots hang down from the nodes of the stems. It is a very good oxygenator. It develops many small white flowers over the growing season. Plant in garden soil and put the pot by the edge of your pond with a couple of inches of water over the pot. It will do fine in an area of moving water. Water Cress will quickly form a mass of foliage and can outgrow a small pot within two months. You may see the root mass growing over the surface of the soil then as they take in growth of the plant may slow and become scraggly. Either re-pot the plant in a larger pot or chop out a big chunk of the plant and the root mass then fill the hole in with soil. Water Cress tolerates sun, shade or partial shade equally well. It is easily grown frorn the tiny seeds found at any gardening center that has a decent seed selection. It is also a prolific re-seeder and will re-sow itself yearly. You can also start it from a freshly purchased bunch at the produce section of the grocery store. Make sure you can see the fine white roots on some of the stalks... Push these into wet soil and soon you will have enough Water Cress for all of the salads and sandwiches you could possibly want.

Good source for Vitamin C perhaps, as it states, I quote;"cure for scurvy". Indeed, it is listed as a hydroponic candidate, and we have it on our list for the lab here.

Offered by Nancy.

The hydroponics growers near me say they they can grow watercress year round. It is delicious fresh in salads and in juice. Much juicier and larger than wild.

Offered by Toni.

I have both an outdoor pond and an indoor pond (for wintering baby fish as well as tropical water plants). I grow watercress in the pond. You don't even have to bother with soil. I just throw in a cutting and it forms its own roots and just grows (like Topsy). The roots take in the nutrient directly from the pondwater- how's that for hydroponics?!

Offered by Cass.