This vegetable contains more than 30 kinds of nutrients, and it grows like crazy in a flower pot, ready to eat in just 25 days

There is a kind of vegetable that loves to grow in water, and its name is watercress. Friends from the south may be more familiar with it, as it is fairly common in places like Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi, and this vegetable is also called western watercress, also known as water field cress. There are wild and cultivated types, and nowadays cultivated ones are in the majority.

Watercress is a perennial aquatic herb and a vegetable used both as food and medicine. As soon as the cold autumn and winter season arrives, it is exactly its peak production period. Watercress is very crisp and tender to eat, and there are many ways to prepare it. Families often use it for stir-frying, making dumpling filling, simmering soup and so on. It tastes slightly bitter, but is also fresh and delicious.

Although watercress is a small leafy green vegetable, its nutritional value is very high. It contains vitamin C, cellulose, protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus and various amino acids and other substances, as many as more than 30 kinds, and it also has the effect of moistening the lungs and promoting urination.

In fact, watercress is also a very fast-growing vegetable. Grown in a flower pot, it also grows very quickly. After planting, it can be picked and brought to the table to eat in as little as 25 days, and after harvesting it can still grow several more rounds. It is a vegetable very suitable for home growing. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can basically be planted all year round.

Watercress likes a cool environment. A temperature of around 20°C is most suitable for its growth. In winter it can briefly tolerate a low temperature of 0°C, and when the temperature is above 30°C it stops growing.

Watercress seeds are very small, but their germination rate is high. Sown at a temperature of 15-25°C, they will sprout in about 1 week. The soil requirements for potted growing are not high; it is mainly enough to grow it in loose, breathable soil. For potted growing, it is best to choose a large pot, to make it convenient to produce more and harvest more.

For potted watercress, be sure to water it frequently, because its water demand throughout the entire growth period is very large. Usually, the pot soil must be kept moist for a long time, and with sufficient water it grows faster. Another point for the high yield of watercress is sunlight. More light can make its leaves and stems plump and thick, and the yield is also higher. When it grows to about 18 cm, it can be picked and eaten.