How does watercress grow?

We have been growing watercress in the gorgeous green countryside of Dorset & Hampshire since the 1850s and like to think that we’re watercress experts; so, who better to show you around a watercress farm?

Let’s start at the beginning – fresh, natural spring water.

The natural springs that surround our farms provide the water for our watercress beds. From the springs, the water bubbles up and flows down to our gravel-lined watercress beds.

Here, the water feeds the floating roots of the watercress, which look like this:

These delicate roots allow the watercress to soak up all the natural minerals from the water. The flat, round leaves of watercress open up towards the sky to harness energy from the sun – the watercress is working as a very small, completely natural, solar panel by combining this energy with the nutrition from the water.