How long does watercress take to grow?

Watercress is ready to harvest in about 50 days, measured from planting.

When to Plant Watercress

Plant watercress by your frost dates, not the calendar: plant outdoors about 2 weeks before your last frost. Pick your USDA zone below for exact dates.

Watercress planting calendar

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 1

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 21

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7a — approximate

Watercress is ready to harvest in about 50 days. Dates above use zone 7 as a reference point. Pick your zone below, or set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.

Varieties to grow

1 variety of watercress in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.

Watercress →

Common problems with watercress

What to watch for, with identification and treatment for each

Cabbage Maggot Cabbage Root Maggot Diamondback Moth Harlequin Bug Cabbage Worms Cabbage Looper Clubroot Black Rot Bottom Rot Tip Burn Boron Deficiency Bolting

🌱 Grow watercress with a calendar built for your exact yard

HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.

Start your free garden →

When to plant watercress in your zone

Zone 3 →Zone 4 →Zone 5 →Zone 6 →Zone 7 →Zone 8 →Zone 9 →Zone 10 →