Watercress in Zone 7a & 7b
Nasturtium officinale
Yes, watercress grows in zones 7a and 7b. Start seeds indoors Mar 20–Mar 27 and plant out Mar 27–Apr 3.
When to plant watercress in zone 7b
Zones 7a and 7b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Mar 20–Mar 27 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 27–Apr 3 |
| Estimated harvest | May 16–May 23 (~50 days after planting) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-10 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 7b
These go outside within two weeks of watercress in zone 7b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionMar 20–Mar 27
- RadishMar 13–Mar 20
- CarrotMar 20–Mar 27
- CabbageMar 27–Apr 3
- LettuceMar 27–Apr 3
- BroccoliMar 27–Apr 3
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 7's season
Zone 7b's frost-free window runs about 198 days, from April 10 to October 25. Watercress needs about 50 days from sowing to first harvest.
Watercress planting windows in every zone
Zone 7b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | May 9–May 16 | May 16–May 23 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 24–May 1 | May 1–May 8 | Jun 20–Jun 27 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jun 15–Jun 22 |
| 6a & 6b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | May 31–Jun 7 |
| 7a & 7b (your zone) | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 16–May 23 |
| 8a & 8b | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Apr 30–May 7 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Mar 23–Mar 30 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Jan 16–Jan 23 | Mar 7–Mar 14 |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
No well-established companions for watercress.
Where to buy watercress seeds
Botanical Interests (each supplier's 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 7b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Watercress in USDA zone 7b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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