Watercress in Zone 8a & 8b
Nasturtium officinale
When to plant watercress in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Mar 4–Mar 11 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 11–Mar 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 30–May 7 (~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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. 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 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Watercress in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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