Upland Cress in Zone 11a & 11b
Barbarea verna
Yes, upland cress grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside Dec 25–Jan 1.
When to plant upland cress in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 25–Jan 1 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 13–Feb 20 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-8 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of upland cress in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Flower SproutsDec 18–Dec 25
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Dec 18–Dec 25
- KalettesDec 18–Dec 25
- KomatsunaDec 18–Dec 25
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
Upland cress delivers watercress's peppery flavor without watercress's constant-moisture growing requirements, since it grows in ordinary garden soil rather than needing a bog-like bed or running water.
How upland cress fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Upland Cress planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 13–May 20 | Jul 2–Jul 9 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 23–May 30 | Jul 12–Jul 19 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 8–May 15 | Jun 27–Jul 4 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 3–May 10 | Jun 22–Jun 29 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 18–Apr 25 | Jun 7–Jun 14 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 23–May 30 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 18–Mar 25 | May 7–May 14 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 8–Feb 15 | Mar 30–Apr 6 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 23–Jan 30 | Mar 14–Mar 21 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Not usually | Dec 25–Jan 1 | Feb 13–Feb 20 |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for upland cress.
Where to buy upland cress seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's upland cress seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing upland cress" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Upland Cress in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest