leafy · direct sow
Watercress: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating watercress a few times a week needs about 27 plants in ~14 sq ft, worth about $173 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 7 | ~4 sq ft | ~14 | ~$45 |
| 2 people | 14 | ~7 sq ft | ~28 | ~$90 |
| 4 people | 27 | ~14 sq ft | ~54 | ~$173 |
| 6 people | 40 | ~20 sq ft | ~80 | ~$256 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.13"
Days to harvest
55 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 5 | Jul 2 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | Jul 12 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Jul 22 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 | Aug 11 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Sep 1 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 10 | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Jan 21 | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut the top 4 inches of dark-green shoots before flowering, any time they are lush.
Don't wait: Flowering shoots turn hot and bitter, shear the patch to restart it.
Yield
About 1.6 lbs per plant over ~8 productive weeks (~1.6 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
11 kcal · 0.5 g fiber · 43 mg vitamin C · 330 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Watercress planting questions
How many watercress plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 7 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 27 plants, which takes around 14 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does watercress need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.13" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant watercress?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing watercress worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~1.6 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $173 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.