How to Grow Cress in a Paper Towel

Cress sprouts are healthy and delicious.

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) is a relative of watercress rich in vitamin C, vitamin K and antioxidants. Also known as mustard cress or pepper cress, it adds a nice crunch and a spicy, peppery flavor to salads and sandwiches. Because garden cress is one of the easiest plants to grow, you can grow it yourself indoors on a paper towel and have fresh cress all the time. Growing cress on paper towels also makes a fun and easy project for kids to help them learn how plants grow.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Shallow plastic tray
• Cress seeds
• Spray bottle (optional)
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Wet several layers of paper towels with water until they are wet but not dripping.

2. Place the paper towels at the bottom of a shallow plastic tray.

3. Scatter a single layer of cress seeds evenly over the paper towels.

4. Place the tray in a sunny area, such as a windowsill.

5. Water the cress seeds daily for two weeks to keep the paper towels moist. A spray bottle filled with water will help you moisten the seeds without overwatering them.

6. Harvest the cress when it is about 2 to 3 inches tall by snipping it off with garden scissors. Rinse the cress before eating it.

Tips & Warnings

• Once cut, the cress will last up to two days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

• As long as you keep caring for it, the cress will grow back four or five times after you cut it.

References

• BBC: Mustard Cress
• Cornell University: Garden Cress