Wrinkled Crinkled Cress (Lepidium sativum) is a unique heirloom variety of garden cress known for its beautifully frilled leaves and sharp, peppery flavor. With deeply textured, wrinkled foliage, this quick-growing green adds flavorful crunch and visual appeal to salads, sandwiches, garnishes, and microgreens blends.
Ideal for small-space gardening or indoor growing, Wrinkled Crinkled Cress thrives in cool weather and matures in just a few weeks. Its high nutrient content and refreshing flavor make it a favorite among chefs, gardeners, and health-conscious growers alike.
Whether sown in pots, raised beds, or window boxes, this compact green is perfect for continuous harvests all spring and fall.
Features
- Distinctive frilled leaves full of garden-fresh flavor
- Fast-growing and productive in small spaces
- Perfect for salads, sandwiches, juicing, and microgreens
- Non-GMO and easy for beginners and advanced gardeners
- Matures quickly for multiple harvests per season
Specifications
- Seed Type: Wrinkled Crinkled Cress vegetable seeds
- Botanical Name: Lepidium sativum
- Common Name: Garden Cress
- Plant Type: Annual green
- Plant Height: 4 – 8 inches
- Zones: USDA Zones 2–11
- Light Requirement: Full sun to light shade
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil
- Germination Time: 5 – 7 days
- Days to Maturity: 20 – 30 days
- GMO Status: Non-GMO
- Season: Spring and fall planting
- Planting Depth: 1/4 inch
- Spacing: Broadcast or sow 1 inch apart
- Optimal Temperature: 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C)
- Watering: Keep evenly moist for tender growth
- Companion Plants: Lettuce, radishes, spinach
- Harvest Window: Harvest young leaves at 2–4 weeks
- Uses: Salad greens, garnishes, microgreens, sandwiches
- Storage: Store unused seeds in a cool, dry place
Planting Guide
- Sow Indoors or Directly: Can be sown outdoors as soon as soil is workable or grown indoors year-round.
- Soil Prep: Use loose, rich soil for best results.
- Watering: Keep soil moist for fast germination and good leaf texture.
- Harvest: Cut leaves when tender and young, starting at 2–3 inches tall.
- Successive Sowing: Plant every 1–2 weeks for continuous harvest.