When to Sow Watercress? A Detailed Guide to the Best Planting Time

Watercress generally refers to douban cai (Nasturtium officinale), a perennial aquatic herbaceous plant, and is mostly grown as a vegetable in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions. So when should it be sown? How is it grown?

When to sow watercress?

Watercress is mostly sown and raised as seedlings from early September to late September, when the temperature drops to 20-25°C. Both dryland seedling raising and semi-paddy seedling raising methods can be used.

How is watercress grown?

1. Propagation

From early September to late September, you can choose a plot with fertile soil and appropriate shade as a seedling field for dryland sowing and seedling raising; you can also choose, at the same time, a paddy field with lower terrain and fertile soil for sowing and seedling raising. In addition, in mid-September you can also cut its tender stems for cuttings propagation.

2. Field planting

The field planting time varies from place to place; in the Yangtze River region it can be planted in mid-October. Follow the specifications of 15 cm row spacing, 10 cm hole spacing, and 2-3 plants per hole.

3. Water and fertilizer

Watercress has a relatively large demand for both water and fertilizer. If it is grown in water, the water should not be too much in the early stage; generally about 2 cm is enough, and water should be added in appropriate amounts according to its growth, but the maximum must not exceed 5 cm. If it is grown in soil, you must ensure that there is always moisture in the soil and that the soil does not dry out. Generally, water once every three or four days, but this should also be changed according to the specific situation. As for fertilizing, there is not much particular fuss. Generally, quick-acting fertilizer is used, and after the leaves grow, some organic fertilizer can be sprinkled on the leaves.

4. Pest and disease control

The main insect pests of watercress include aphids, diamondback moths, and yellow-striped flea beetles. Dimethoate, Bt, sumicidin, and others can be used for control. The diseases include leaf blight and rust. For leaf blight, mancozeb or chlorothalonil solution can be sprayed; for rust, triadimefon solution can be sprayed.

When the watercress plant height reaches about 25 cm, it can be harvested, and after harvesting it should be brought to market promptly.