When to plant Cress in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow cress direct in any month of the year in a temperate garden, scattering seed just 4 mm deep for a fast, peppery salad leaf. It germinates in 6–12 days and is ready to cut in as little as 10–14 days, making it the quickest crop in the bed. Space or thin plants to about 15 cm with rows 10–15 cm apart, though many gardeners simply sow it thickly and cut it young as a cut-and-come-again green. Because it matures so fast, sow small batches every couple of weeks around Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide for a constant supply.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: January to December.

Growing notes

Cress is about as easy as growing gets, and its speed is its main virtue. The most common disappointment is not a growing problem but a timing one: sow too much at once and you get a glut that bolts and turns bitter before you can eat it. The fix is little-and-often sowing, a fresh pinch of seed every ten to fourteen days rather than a whole packet in one go.

In the heat of a temperate summer, cress bolts to seed very quickly, so give it light afternoon shade and keep the soil moist to slow it down. Water stress is the other trigger for bitterness and premature flowering; a bed that dries out will send plants straight to seed.

For the tenderest leaves, cut the crop young, at 5–8 cm tall, and it will often resprout for a second picking. You can grow it just as well in shallow trays or pots on a windowsill, which suits apartment gardeners in Sydney and Melbourne.

Pests are rarely a serious issue, though slugs will graze seedlings in damp weather. Because the harvest window is so short, most problems are best solved simply by sowing again rather than nursing a tired batch.

Cress at a glance

Common questions

how long does cress take to grow

Cress is one of the fastest crops you can grow, ready to cut in just 10–14 days from sowing. Seed germinates in 6–12 days. Because it matures so quickly, sowing small amounts every couple of weeks gives the best continuous supply.

can I grow cress all year in Sydney

Yes, in temperate Sydney cress can be sown in any month. In summer it bolts fast, so give it afternoon shade and steady moisture. In the cooler months it grows more slowly but stays sweeter for longer.

why is my cress bitter

Bitterness comes from heat, age or water stress. Cut cress young at 5–8 cm before it starts to bolt, and keep the soil consistently moist. In hot weather, some afternoon shade keeps the leaves milder.

can you grow cress indoors

Cress grows readily in shallow trays or pots on a bright windowsill and does not need deep soil. This makes it ideal for balconies and apartments. Sow thickly, cut young, and resow every couple of weeks.

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