Lepidium sativum

Lepidium sativum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m .
It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils. For the best results, however, it requires a moist soil and also some shade during the summer to prevent it running straight to seed. Garden cress is often cultivated as a sprouted seed, there are some named varieties. It is the cress of 'mustard and cress'. A very easy and fast crop, it can be ready within 7 days from sowing the seed. It can also be grown outdoors as full grown plants and can provide fresh leaves for the salad bowl all year round from successional sowings. Plants can be overwintered outdoors to provide edible leaves all year round, though they will require some protection if temperatures fall below -5°c. This plant is cultivated in Ethiopia for the edible oil from its seed.