Watercress in Zone 3a & 3b
Nasturtium officinale
When to plant watercress in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Watercress tolerates either.
| Start indoors | May 9–May 16 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 16–May 23 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 5–Jul 12 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-10 in.
Watercress is the plant upland cress is compared against and named for, a peppery salad green that shares its flavor but is harder to grow, since it needs constantly saturated soil rather than an ordinary garden bed.
How watercress fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Watercress needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Watercress.
Where to buy watercress seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing watercress" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Watercress in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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