Cress Microgreens: Grow An Intense Burst of Nutrition in Days

Microgreen growing tips

Cress is an excellent microgreen choice if you want to add a little spice. These easy-to-grow cress microgreens will wake up your taste buds with their intense peppery flavor. 

garden cress microgreens in tray

Cress microgreens are excellent for growing indoors at home. Also called Garden Cress or Curled Cress, these little plants will add a burst of flavor and nutrition to any meal. Follow these easy steps to grow cress microgreens and harvest in just a few days.

How to Grow Cress Microgreens

  • Cress seeds do not need to be soaked before sprouting. 
  • Spread the cress seeds onto a damp growing medium. 
  • Cover the seeds and keep them away from light for 4 - 5 days
  • This is the blackout period referred to on the seed packet. 
  • Keep the seeds moist by misting them with water from a spray bottle. 
  • Maintain an average room temperature. 
  • Check daily and mist as needed to keep them moist. Cress seeds don’t need much water to sprout. 
  • Once the cress seeds have sprouted, remove the cover and expose the seedlings to direct light
  • The light during this growth period is vital for cress microgreens. The bright green color that develops during the photosynthesis process creates higher levels of vitamins and nutrients. 
  • Continue keeping the microgreens moist until they’re ready to harvest.
cress microgreens in windowsill

When to Harvest Cress Microgreens

Within 8-12 days, when cress seedlings are about 2 inches tall, they will be ready to harvest. The seed leaves (cotyledons) will be fully grown, and the first set of true leaves will be growing. 


  • Use scissors to cut the greens just above the soil. 
  • Then rinse in cool water if needed. 
  • Use immediately or place in the fridge and consume within a few days.
Cress microgreens ready to harvest

How to Use Fresh Cress Microgreens

You can enjoy your fresh cress microgreens in a variety of ways. 


Garden Cress Microgreens add a peppery flavor that works well with all kinds of vegetable dishes, meats, and grains.


Their leafy shape adds a nice touch of visual interest when used as a garnish.


Cress microgreens will look beautiful and add intense flavor when sprinkled on a bowl of soup. 


Sandwiches are another place to add fresh cress microgreens. They'll add more nutrition than lettuce alone.

closeup of green cress microgreens

What are the nutritional benefits of Cress Microgreens?

Microgreens are a powerful way to increase your fresh vegetable consumption. All the nutrition is packed into a miniature plant. 


Cress microgreens are an excellent source of vitamins C and E. They also have high amounts of carotenoids that become vitamin A when consumed. 

Microgreens are easy to grow and have a high nutritional value. Cress microgreens are excellent to grow indoors and use in your food year round. With cress microgreen seeds from Sow Right Seeds, you'll enjoy a delicious harvest within 12 days. 


Start growing cress microgreens and taste the flavorful benefits.


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