Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Nasturtium officinale

Watercress

Family BrassicaceaeGenus Nasturtium

A dense mat of rounded bright green leaves
LeafChirocca77CC BY 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennial or helophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
White, pinkFlora of North America
Native range
Flanders, Grand Duchy of LuxembourgGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • One of the oldest leaf vegetables known to have been eaten by people. It shares a peppery bite with relatives such as mustard, radish and wasabi. Wikipedia: Watercress

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 28, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 27, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    Deno got the same from six months at 40.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

100% germination in 4–10 days.

Six months dry at 70 or 40, either one. A remarkable result for so aquatic a plant.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, NasturtiumPublic domain
Show the original text
Nasturtium (Brassicaceae). N. off icinale germ: best with seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 in 70(100%in 4-10 d). Germination is less with fresh seed as shown by 70(20% in 2-27 d) and 40(81%in 3-8 w). Light had no effect. It is remarkable that a species so aquatic as this germinates best with DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nasturtium. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

81% germination in 21–56 days.

If the seed is fresh, sow it cold: 81% against 20% at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, NasturtiumPublic domain
Show the original text
Nasturtium (Brassicaceae). N. off icinale germ: best with seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 in 70(100%in 4-10 d). Germination is less with fresh seed as shown by 70(20% in 2-27 d) and 40(81%in 3-8 w). Light had no effect. It is remarkable that a species so aquatic as this germinates best with DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nasturtium. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 27 days to germinate.

20% germination in 2–27 days.

Fresh seed at 70 gives a fifth of what dry-stored seed gives, and unevenly.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, NasturtiumPublic domain
Show the original text
Nasturtium (Brassicaceae). N. off icinale germ: best with seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 in 70(100%in 4-10 d). Germination is less with fresh seed as shown by 70(20% in 2-27 d) and 40(81%in 3-8 w). Light had no effect. It is remarkable that a species so aquatic as this germinates best with DS seed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nasturtium. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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