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Vegetable Partial Shade OK Frequent water

Cress

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Fastest food crop -- ready in a week. Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to 0°C, cress performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 8°C and 18°C. Give it partial shade, though it appreciates some direct light and frequent watering — it is a thirsty plant that dislikes dry soil, and expect to harvest in roughly 7-14 days. Popular with home gardeners for its reliable yields and straightforward growing requirements.

Harvest 7-14 days
Temp Range 0°C — 22°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Cress

Cress takes 7-14 days to harvest. It grows best in 8–18°C with partial shade ok and frequent watering. Cress is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to 0°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Cress in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Partial Shade OK
💧
Water
Frequent
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
7-14 days

Temperature Range

8-18°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 8–18°C Tolerates: 0–22°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Grow on damp paper towels or soil. Succession sow weekly. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 0°C to 22°C
  • Optimal growing: 8°C to 18°C
  • Harvest in 7-14 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Cress is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is the fastest food crop in the plant kingdom — from seed to harvest in as little as 7–14 days. It requires no special conditions: simply sprinkle seeds densely on moist paper towel, a tray of moist coir, or directly on damp soil. No covering is needed — just press seeds into the surface. Keep moist at all times; cress never tolerates drying out even briefly. Temperature range of 50–75°F is ideal; it bolts quickly in heat. Cress grows on a sunny windowsill year-round, making it the perfect indoor crop for apartments. For outdoor growing, sow in early spring or fall in any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. Succession sow every 7–10 days for a continuous supply. It needs no fertilizer for microgreen production. If allowing plants to grow beyond the microgreen stage in outdoor beds, space 4–6 inches apart and harvest leaves regularly to prevent bolting.

Common Pests & Problems

Cress is extremely fast-growing and largely trouble-free, completing its harvest cycle before most pests can establish. Damping off (caused by Pythium or Fusarium) causes seedling collapse at soil level — caused by overwatering, poor airflow, or contaminated growing medium; use fresh, sterile growing medium and ensure adequate ventilation. Flea beetles make small round holes in outdoor-grown cress leaves — use floating row cover as protection. Mold on the growing medium of indoor cress trays indicates insufficient airflow or overwatering — thin seeding density and provide better air circulation. Aphids occasionally appear on mature outdoor cress — treat with insecticidal soap.

Harvest & Storage

Harvest cress microgreens when seedlings reach 1–3 inches tall with fully expanded seed leaves — typically 7–14 days after sowing. Cut just above the growing medium with scissors. Use immediately for best flavor and nutrition; cress is extremely perishable. Fresh-cut cress stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator remains usable for 2–3 days but deteriorates rapidly. Do not wash cress until just before use. For outdoor-grown mature cress, harvest individual sprigs or shear the entire plant to 1 inch; it will regrow once before bolting. Cress does not dry, freeze, or preserve well — it is strictly a fresh crop.

Popular Varieties

'Curled Cress' (also called Pepper Cress) produces finely divided, frilly leaves with a more decorative appearance than plain-leafed types — popular for garnishing. 'Plain-Leafed' or 'Broadleaf' cress has larger, simpler leaves and a slightly milder flavor, faster germination, and is the standard type for microgreen production. 'Persian' cress has an anise-tinged flavor note alongside the characteristic pepper. Nasturtium cress (Tropaeolum majus grown as a microgreen) is sometimes grouped with cress but is a distinct species with a similar peppery flavor and attractive round, flat seed leaves.

Where to Grow Cress

Cress can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍

Europe

80 cities
🌏

Asia

79 cities
🌎

North America

78 cities
🌍

Africa

39 cities
🌎

South America

39 cities
🌊

Oceania

19 cities
🕌

Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK easy
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Amsterdam, NL easy
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Ankara, TR easy
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Antalya, TR easy
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Athens, GR easy
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Barcelona, ES easy
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Bari, IT easy
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Belgrade, RS easy
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Bergen, NO easy
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Berlin, DE easy
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Bilbao, ES easy
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Bologna, IT easy
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Bordeaux, FR easy
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Bratislava, SK easy
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Brussels, BE easy
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Bucharest, RO easy
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Budapest, HU easy
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Catania, IT easy
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Cologne, DE easy
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Copenhagen, DK easy
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Corfu, GR easy
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Cork, IE easy
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Dublin, IE easy
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Dubrovnik, HR easy
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Edinburgh, GB easy
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Florence, IT easy
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Frankfurt, DE easy
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Gdansk, PL easy
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Genoa, IT easy
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Glasgow, GB easy
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Gothenburg, SE easy
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Hamburg, DE easy
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Helsinki, FI easy
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Heraklion, GR easy
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Istanbul, TR easy
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Izmir, TR easy
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Krakow, PL easy
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Kyiv, UA easy
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Limassol, CY easy
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Lisbon, PT easy
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Ljubljana, SI easy
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London, GB easy
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Lyon, FR easy
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Madrid, ES easy
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Malaga, ES easy
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Marseille, FR easy
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Milan, IT easy
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Munich, DE easy
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Naples, IT easy
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Nice, FR easy
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Nicosia, CY easy
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Oslo, NO easy
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Palermo, IT easy
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Paris, FR easy
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Porto, PT easy
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Poznan, PL easy
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Prague, CZ easy
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Reykjavik, IS easy
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Riga, LV easy
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Rome, IT easy
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Seville, ES easy
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Sofia, BG easy
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Split, HR easy
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Stockholm, SE easy
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Strasbourg, FR easy
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Stuttgart, DE easy
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Tallinn, EE easy
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Thessaloniki, GR easy
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Tirana, AL easy
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Toulouse, FR easy
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Turin, IT easy
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Turku, FI easy
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Valencia, ES easy
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Valletta, MT easy
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Verona, IT easy
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Vienna, AT easy
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Vilnius, LT easy
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Warsaw, PL easy
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Zagreb, HR easy
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Zurich, CH easy
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN easy
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Almaty, KZ easy
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Bali, ID easy
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Bandung, ID easy
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Bangalore, IN easy
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Bangkok, TH easy
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Beijing, CN easy
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Busan, KR easy
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Cebu, PH easy
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Chandigarh, IN easy
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Chengdu, CN easy
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Chennai, IN easy
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Chiang Mai, TH easy
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Chittagong, BD easy
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Chongqing, CN easy
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Coimbatore, IN easy
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Colombo, LK easy
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Da Nang, VN easy
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Dalian, CN easy
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Davao, PH easy
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Delhi, IN easy
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Dhaka, BD easy
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Dharan, NP easy
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Fukuoka, JP easy
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Galle, LK easy
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Guangzhou, CN easy
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Hangzhou, CN easy
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Hanoi, VN easy
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Harbin, CN easy
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN easy
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Hong Kong, HK easy
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Hyderabad, IN easy
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Incheon, KR easy
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Indore, IN easy
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Islamabad, PK easy
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Jaipur, IN easy
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Jakarta, ID easy
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Jeju, KR easy
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Johor Bahru, MY easy
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Karachi, PK easy
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Kathmandu, NP easy
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Kochi, IN easy
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Kolkata, IN easy
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Kuala Lumpur, MY easy
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Kunming, CN easy
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Kyoto, JP easy
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Lahore, PK easy
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Lucknow, IN easy
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Manila, PH easy
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Mumbai, IN easy
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Nagoya, JP easy
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Nanjing, CN easy
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Nha Trang, VN easy
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Okinawa, JP easy
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Osaka, JP easy
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Pattaya, TH easy
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Penang, MY easy
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Phnom Penh, KH easy
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Pune, IN easy
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Sapporo, JP easy
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Seoul, KR easy
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Shanghai, CN easy
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Shenzhen, CN easy
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Siem Reap, KH easy
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Singapore, SG easy
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Surabaya, ID easy
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Surat, IN easy
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Taipei, TW easy
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Tashkent, UZ easy
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Tbilisi, GE easy
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Tokyo, JP easy
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Ulaanbaatar, MN easy
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Varanasi, IN easy
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Vientiane, LA easy
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Visakhapatnam, IN easy
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Wuhan, CN easy
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Xi'an, CN easy
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Xiamen, CN easy
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Yangon, MM easy
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US easy
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Anchorage, US easy
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Atlanta, US easy
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Austin, US easy
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Baltimore, US easy
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Baton Rouge, US easy
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Boise, US easy
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Boston, US easy
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Bridgetown, BB easy
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Buffalo, US easy
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Calgary, CA easy
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Cancun, MX easy
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Charleston, US easy
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Charlotte, US easy
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Chattanooga, US easy
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Chicago, US easy
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Denver, US easy
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Des Moines, US easy
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Detroit, US easy
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Edmonton, CA easy
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El Paso, US easy
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Fargo, US easy
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Fresno, US easy
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Guadalajara, MX easy
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Halifax, CA easy
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Hartford, US easy
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Havana, CU easy
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Honolulu, US easy
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Houston, US easy
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Jacksonville, US easy
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Kansas City, US easy
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Kingston, JM easy
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Knoxville, US easy
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Las Vegas, US easy
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Little Rock, US easy
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Los Angeles, US easy
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Louisville, US easy
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Lubbock, US easy
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Madison, US easy
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Memphis, US easy
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Mexico City, MX easy
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Miami, US easy
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Milwaukee, US easy
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Minneapolis, US easy
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Monterrey, MX easy
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Montreal, CA easy
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Nashville, US easy
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New Orleans, US easy
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New York, US easy
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Oaxaca, MX easy
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Oklahoma City, US easy
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Omaha, US easy
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Ottawa, CA easy
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Panama City, PA easy
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Phoenix, US easy
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Pittsburgh, US easy
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Portland, US easy
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Puebla, MX easy
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Quebec City, CA easy
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Raleigh, US easy
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Richmond, US easy
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Sacramento, US easy
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Salt Lake City, US easy
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San Diego, US easy
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San Francisco, US easy
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San Jose, CR easy
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Santo Domingo, DO easy
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Saskatoon, CA easy
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Savannah, US easy
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Seattle, US easy
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Spokane, US easy
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St. Louis, US easy
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Tampa, US easy
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Toronto, CA easy
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Tucson, US easy
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Vancouver, CA easy
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Victoria, CA easy
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Winnipeg, CA easy
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🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI easy
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Accra, GH easy
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Addis Ababa, ET easy
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Algiers, DZ easy
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Antananarivo, MG easy
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Arusha, TZ easy
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Bamako, ML easy
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Bloemfontein, ZA easy
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Cairo, EG easy
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Cape Town, ZA easy
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Casablanca, MA easy
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Dakar, SN easy
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Dar es Salaam, TZ easy
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Douala, CM easy
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Durban, ZA easy
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Entebbe, UG easy
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Fez, MA easy
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Freetown, SL easy
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Harare, ZW easy
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Johannesburg, ZA easy
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Kampala, UG easy
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Kigali, RW easy
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Kinshasa, CD easy
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Lagos, NG easy
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Libreville, GA easy
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Lilongwe, MW easy
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Lome, TG easy
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Luanda, AO easy
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Lusaka, ZM easy
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Maputo, MZ easy
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Marrakech, MA easy
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Mombasa, KE easy
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Nairobi, KE easy
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Ouagadougou, BF easy
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Port Louis, MU easy
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Pretoria, ZA easy
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Tunis, TN easy
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Windhoek, NA easy
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Zanzibar, TZ easy
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE easy
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Asuncion, PY easy
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Barranquilla, CO easy
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Belem, BR easy
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Bogota, CO easy
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Brasilia, BR easy
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Buenos Aires, AR easy
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Cali, CO easy
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Campinas, BR easy
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Caracas, VE easy
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Cartagena, CO easy
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Concepcion, CL easy
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Cordoba, AR easy
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Curitiba, BR easy
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Cusco, PE easy
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Fortaleza, BR easy
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Georgetown, GY easy
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Goiania, BR easy
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Guayaquil, EC easy
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La Paz, BO easy
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Lima, PE easy
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Manaus, BR easy
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Medellin, CO easy
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Mendoza, AR easy
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Montevideo, UY easy
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Paramaribo, SR easy
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Port of Spain, TT easy
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Porto Alegre, BR easy
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Quito, EC easy
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Recife, BR easy
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Rio de Janeiro, BR easy
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Rosario, AR easy
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Salvador, BR easy
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Santa Cruz, BO easy
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Santiago, CL easy
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Sao Paulo, BR easy
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Sucre, BO easy
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Trujillo, PE easy
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Valparaiso, CL easy
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU easy
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Alice Springs, AU easy
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Auckland, NZ easy
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Brisbane, AU easy
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Cairns, AU easy
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Canberra, AU easy
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Christchurch, NZ easy
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Darwin, AU easy
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Dunedin, NZ easy
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Gold Coast, AU easy
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Hamilton, NZ easy
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Hobart, AU easy
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Melbourne, AU easy
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Noumea, NC easy
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Perth, AU easy
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Suva, FJ easy
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Sydney, AU easy
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Townsville, AU easy
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Wellington, NZ easy
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE easy
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Amman, JO easy
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Baghdad, IQ easy
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Beirut, LB easy
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Doha, QA easy
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Dubai, AE easy
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Erbil, IQ easy
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Jeddah, SA easy
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Kuwait City, KW easy
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Manama, BH easy
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Muscat, OM easy
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Riyadh, SA easy
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Sana'a, YE easy
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Tabriz, IR easy
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Tehran, IR easy
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Tel Aviv, IL easy
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✓

When should I plant cress in my city?

The best time to plant cress depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 8°C and 18°C. Since cress is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow cress in winter?

Yes, cress is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to 0°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Cress Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Cress seeds and starter plants online.

Shop on Burpee Search on Amazon

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Similar Growing Requirements

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15-24°C
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Vegetable · Partial Shade OK

5-18°C
🥬

Kale

Vegetable · Full Sun to Partial Shade

5-20°C
🌿

Mint

Herb · Partial Shade OK

12-22°C
🥬

Pea

Vegetable · Full Sun

8-18°C

Frequently Asked Questions about Cress

When should I plant cress?

The best time to plant cress depends on your local climate. Cress grows best in temperatures between 8°C and 18°C (can tolerate 0°C to 22°C). Cress is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can cress grow in tropical climates?

Cress is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 8°C and 18°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does cress take to grow?

Cress typically takes 7-14 days from planting to harvest. It requires partial shade ok and frequent watering. Grow on damp paper towels or soil. Succession sow weekly. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Find the Best Time to Plant Cress

See the planting calendar for Cress in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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