When to plant Cress in Subtropical Australia
Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.
Sow cress direct in any month of the year, January through December, as this fast, forgiving green fits neatly around the subtropical calendar. Barely cover the fine seed at about 4 mm deep, keep it constantly moist, and expect germination in 6–12 days and a first cut in just 10–14 days. Space or thin plants to around 15 cm, with rows 10–15 cm apart, though most gardeners simply sow it thickly and snip it young. In Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, move sowings to a shaded, cooler spot through the hottest, most humid weeks to slow bolting.
Sowing calendar — subtropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: January to December.
Growing notes
Cress is about the quickest edible you can grow, and its all-year sow window makes it a reliable filler between slower crops. The trade-off in the subtropics is that heat and humidity push it to bolt within days of being ready, so the whole approach is to sow little, sow often, and harvest young.
Keep the seedbed or tray evenly moist at all times. Cress has shallow roots and wilts fast on a hot afternoon, and a single dry-out will make the leaves peppery and tough. During the summer wet, move sowings into afternoon shade or under a covered patio to buy a few more days before flowering.
The common failure here is a bitter, stringy crop that has bolted before you cut it. The fix is timing rather than technique: sow a fresh short row every week or two and harvest at 10–14 days while the leaves are tender. In the cooler, drier months around the Gold Coast hinterland it slows down and holds far longer, so you can relax the succession sowing through winter.
Cress at a glance
| Sowing depth | 4 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 15 cm |
| Row spacing | 10-15 cm |
| Germination | 6-12 days |
| Days to maturity | 10-14 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Sow Direct |
Common questions
- how fast does cress grow
- Cress germinates in 6–12 days and is ready to cut in about 10–14 days. It is one of the fastest greens you can grow at home.
- can you grow cress all year in Brisbane
- Yes, cress can be sown in every month in the subtropics. Through the hottest, most humid weeks, shift sowings to a shaded, cooler spot to slow bolting.
- why is my cress bitter
- Bitter, peppery cress usually means it has bolted or dried out. Harvest young at 10–14 days and keep the soil constantly moist to keep the leaves mild.
- how deep should I sow cress seed
- Sow about 4 mm deep, barely covering the fine seed, and keep the surface moist until it germinates. Thin to around 15 cm if growing to full size, or sow thickly and cut young.
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