Garden cress is delicious, he althy and incredibly easy to grow yourself. Below we have compiled the most important key data for garden cress and its care program to ensure that your sowing is a success.
What is a garden cress profile?
The garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is a cruciferous vegetable and probably comes from the Near East. It has bluish green orlight green leaves and white or pink flowers. The growth height is between 20 and 60 cm and the harvest takes place one week after sowing. Garden cress contains many important nutritional values and he alth benefits.
A profile of the garden cress
- Botanical name: Lepidium sativum
- Family: Cruciferous vegetables
- Genus: Cress (Lepidium)
- Origin: probably from the Near East
- Leaves: bluish green or light green, narrow, elongated
- Flowers: white or pink, four petals
- Growth height: 20 to 60cm
- Sowing date: outdoors from May or on the windowsill all year round
- Harvest: one week after sowing
- Use: usually raw as a side dish for salad, quark or cheese, but also as a spice in warm soups or dishes
- Winter hardiness: not hardy
Growing garden cress
Garden cress, contrary to what the name suggests, grows not only in the garden but practically everywhere and even on a wide variety of substrates. Garden cress thrives not only in soil but also on cotton wool, cellulose or other surfaces on which the roots can find support. You can find out how to sow and harvest your garden cress here.
The he alth aspect of garden cress
Garden cress contains many he althy nutritional values in high concentrations. In addition, it is almost always consumed fresh, so that hardly any nutrients are lost through storage. Garden cress has a preventative and supportive effect against several diseases and he alth problems:
- It has a blood-thinning and antioxidant effect and is therefore helpful for cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure or stroke.
- Cress seeds and plants help detoxify the body.
- Garden cress regulates digestion and has an antimicrobial effect and therefore helps with digestive problems and lack of appetite.
- Garden cress, especially the seeds, has an anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect and can therefore be used for colds.
- Cress seeds successfully fight stubborn pathogens such as bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and can therefore also be taken to support serious bacterial diseases.
The nutritional values of garden cress
Garden cress is best consumed fresh because it cannot be stored for long. Then it also contains the most nutritional values. Per 100 grams, garden cress contains:
- Sodium: 14mg
- Potassium: 606mg
- Protein: 2, 6g
- Vitamin A: 6917
- Calcium: 81mg
- Vitamin C: 69mg
- Iron: 1.3mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.2mg
- Magnesium: 38mg
Tip
Don't harvest all of the garden cress in the garden bed in summer, but leave some of it standing so that it forms flowers and then seeds. You can eat these directly or use them for the next sowing.
