Variety field guide
What to expect from Upland Cress
Upland Cress is an annual upland cress selection grown for baby leaf, full-size greens, succession planting, cool-season gardens, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Fresh, peppery, and crisp, Upland Cress ( Barbarea verna ), also known as Early Winter Cress or American Cress, brings a lively bite reminiscent of watercress to cool-season gardens. Its tender, emerald-green leaves form compact rosettes, each with a sharp, refreshing flavor that enlivens salads, sandwiches, and garnishes alike. Native to Europe and naturalized across North America, this hardy biennial is often grown as an annual for its lush foliage.
About Upland Cress
Upland Cress is an annual selection of upland cress, with a rosette habit and an expected height or spread of 7–12 in. It is best suited to baby leaf, full-size greens, succession planting, cool-season gardens, and seed saving. Notable traits include cut baby leaves young or harvest full-size plants before quality declines; peppery to mustard-like flavor that strengthens with age and heat.
Upland Cress deserves a separate record because cultivar names can carry differences in harvest stage, plant form, flavor, or regional performance.
History and provenance
Peppery salad greens and mustard greens come from several Brassicaceae species. Garden arugula, wild arugula, upland cress, and mustard greens differ in life cycle, leaf texture, and heat tolerance, so this page preserves species-level identity rather than relying on flavor names alone. Upland Cress (Barbarea verna) Origins and Etymology Upland Cress (Barbarea verna), also known as Early Winter Cress, Land Cress, or American Cress, belongs to the mustard family (Brassicaceae), a lineage that includes kale, mustard greens, and watercress. Native to Europe and western Asia, it has been cultivated and foraged since medieval times for its sharp, refreshing flavor and high nutritional value. The genus name Barbarea honors Saint Barbara, the patron saint of armorers and miners, reflecting the plant’s resilience and protective associations. The species name verna means “of spring,” a nod to its role as one of the earliest green vegetables to appear after winter. Cultural Significance and Lore During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Upland Cress held an important place in both monastic and peasant gardens, valued for its vitamin-rich leaves that revived vitality after the scarcity of winter months.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Barbarea verna (Mill.) Asch. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | 50-59 Days |
| Germination | 3-7 Days at 45–60 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 7–12 in |
| Growth habit | Rosette |
| Spacing | 6 in between plants; 12 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full - Partial Sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Upland Cress from seed
Sow 1/4 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 3-7 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 45–60 °F. Germination preparation: Direct sow into a prepared, weed-free seedbed; avoid disturbing developing roots or dense stands. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/4 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during spring and provide full - partial sun. Space plants 6 in apart with 12 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Hardy. Good container fit with drainage, even moisture, and the listed spacing
Harvest and use
Approximately 50-59 Days, from direct sowing to the listed baby-leaf or full-size harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Cut baby leaves young or harvest full-size plants before quality declines. Uses: Baby leaf, full-size greens, succession planting, cool-season gardens, and seed saving. Flavor: peppery to mustard-like flavor that strengthens with age and heat. Seed saving: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Best uses include baby leaf, full-size greens, succession planting, cool-season gardens, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: peppery to mustard-like flavor that strengthens with age and heat.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Upland Cress plants that match the expected rosette habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Compatible plants of the same species may cross to varying degrees through insects or wind. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Allow selected plants to pass the eating stage and reach full botanical seed maturity. Harvest only when seed heads, pods, or fruits have matured enough for sound seed development. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Flea beetles, imported cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, aphids, slugs, root maggots, and clubroot risk where the pathogen is present. Management: Use rotation, insect netting before pests arrive, regular leaf inspection, sanitation, and well-drained soil. Do not plant the same brassica family repeatedly in one bed. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Upland Cress
When is Upland Cress ready? Use 50-59 Days. Approximately 50-59 Days, from direct sowing to the listed baby-leaf or full-size harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 3-7 Days at about 45–60 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 7–12 in with a rosette habit. Space plants 6 in apart and rows 12 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Good container fit with drainage, even moisture, and the listed spacing Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
