Barbarea verna
| Barbarea verna | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Barbarea verna (common name: land cress)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring to September in situ at 3-weekly intervals to provide a succession of leaves. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks.
Cultivation: Succeeds in sun or shade in a moist well-drained soil,[1] growing well on a north facing wall[2][3]. The summer crop is best if it is given some shade whilst the winter crop succeeds in sunny positions[4][1].
Land cress is often cultivated as a salad plant, when it is usually treated as an annual[5]. It can supply leaves all year round from successional sowings[4]. In hot weather plants soon run to seed unless they are kept shaded and moist[6]. The leaves taste much hotter in the summer[K].
Plants usually self-sow freely when growing in a suitable position[K].
Range: S.W. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[7].
Habitat: Waste and cultivated ground.
Edibility: Young leaves - raw, cooked or used as a seasoning[4][8][2][9][3]. A hot, spicy watercress flavour, they are delicious in salads[6][10]. Leaves can be obtained throughout the year if autumn-sown plants are given a light protection in winter[4].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[5][3][11][6].
The seed can be sprouted and added to salads etc[6].
Pollinators: Flies, bees, beetles, self
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: B. praecox. (Sm.)R.Br. Campe verna.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.