When to plant watercress

Hardy · tolerates frost

Watercressis keyed to your local frost dates. The offsets below hold anywhere — but the calendar dates they land on don’t. Enter your ZIP for dates tuned to your city’s nearest NOAA station.

Watercress planting timeline

Direct sow

2 before–2 after

Harvest

45–60 days later

-3 wksLAST SPRING FROST+8 wks

Hardy: tolerates frost and can go out a few weeks before the last spring frost.

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Watercress planting FAQ

Can I direct sow watercress?

Yes — you can sow watercress directly outdoors 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last spring frost.

How long does watercress take to grow?

Watercress takes about 45–60 days from sowing to harvest, depending on the variety and conditions.

Is watercress frost-hardy?

Hardy: tolerates frost and can go out a few weeks before the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

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Planting windows are offsets from your local 1991–2020 NOAA frost normals. How we compute this.