Upland Cress in Zone 5a & 5b
Barbarea verna
Yes, upland cress grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside May 3–May 10.
When to plant upland cress in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | May 3–May 10 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 22–Jun 29 (~50 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-8 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of upland cress in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionApr 19–Apr 26
- CarrotApr 19–Apr 26
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- Bush BeansMay 17–May 24
- Sweet CornMay 17–May 24
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Upland cress needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Upland Cress planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 →
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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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Upland Cress in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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