Watercress Planting Guide
Growing watercress in May
watercress rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.
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How to water watercress
watercress wants steady moisture. Check the top inch of soil every morning — if it's dry, water before the sun is high.
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Where to put watercress
watercress wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant watercress. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Watercress is a semi-aquatic plant with a peppery, tangy flavor rich in vitamins and minerals. It grows naturally along streams and can be cultivated in containers with standing water.
Nasturtium officinale · Vegetable · Brassicaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Watercress Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Watercress?
Watercress Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Watercress planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 8 | May 15 | Jun 26 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 3 | May 10 | Jun 21 – Jul 26 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | Apr 29 | May 6 | Jun 17 – Jul 22 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 12 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | Jun 6 – Jul 11 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | May 30 – Jul 4 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | May 22 – Jun 26 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | May 15 – Jun 19 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | May 6 – Jun 10 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 18 | Apr 29 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Mar 8 | Apr 19 – May 24 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | Apr 8 – May 13 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 28 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Apr 12 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Mar 19 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Mar 19 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Mar 19 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Mar 19 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Transplant shows "—" because Watercress is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Watercress
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
High — keep soil consistently moist
Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.
🧪 Soil pH
6.5 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 3a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
40–60 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Brassicaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Brassicaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Watercress
Watercress matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Watercress
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Watercress
Grow in containers with trays of water kept fresh. Provide partial shade and cool conditions. Harvest stems by cutting above water level. Replace water frequently to prevent stagnation.
Saving Watercress Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Watercress by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Watercress?
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Watercress grow in?
Watercress can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Watercress need?
Growing Watercress requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5.