Watercress in Zone 5a & 5b
Nasturtium officinale
When to plant watercress in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 26–May 3 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 15–Jun 22 (~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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 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 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Watercress in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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