Old English Watercress Seed
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Old English Watercress Seed

Nasturtium officinale

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Supplied as a packet of approximately 300 seeds.

There are many myths surrounding the growing of watercress - the main tow being that you a) need running water to be successful and b) the fear of liver fluke contamination; the reality is neither should be of concern.

Watercress does need moisture to grow well and, more importantly, flower too prematurely but we have very successfully grown in moist windowsill troughs indoors and larger pots outside - the importance is to keep the compost thoroughly wet. For a more permanent bed you might consider lining and area with polythene before filling up with compost - thus creating a bog area.

With regard to liver flukes, this is only a problem where the water the watercress is growing in is from a supply contaminated by animal faeces - ie water run off from fields where sheep etc are grazing; a clean water source will guarantee no chance of a problem. But for those who remain concerned it is also worth remembering that watercress grows from the tips and the larval cercariae of the flukes cannot climb so will only be present (if at all) on the plants at around the water level - thus the fresh tips and growth above water level would not be infected. 

• Sow 3-4 seeds in pots of moist soil or compost.
• Grow on in moist conditions - soggy wet containers, a polythene lined trench with mud and water or even in the pond.
• Pick regularly to ensure juvenilty and to prevent premature flowering.

Supplied as a packet of approximately 300 seeds.

For a little more in depth information on Old English Watercress Seed you may find the following article of great use...
A Note On Our Seed, Seed Counts & Our Seed Packets

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