Barbarea verna - Land cress

Barbarea verna, also known as Spring Barbarea, Ground cress or Garden cress, is a biennial plant from native European flora, similar to watercress and land cress, which can sometimes be found in fields, lawns, and stream banks, always in more or less damp areas. In the garden, this herbaceous plant can be grown in the vegetable garden, as well as in slightly wild areas where its yellow flowers are charming. Its acidic and spicy leaves enhance salads and soups. Let a few seeds form, and Spring Barbarea will self-seed in the garden or can be sown in the vegetable garden. A forgotten culinary herb, definitely worth rediscovering!

Barbarea verna belongs to the Brassicaceae family, it is a relative of rapeseed, mustard, and watercress. It is a hardy biennial herbaceous plant native to Western Europe, found from Sweden to Portugal and Italy. In the first year, the plant produces a rosette of long, thick, deeply divided leaves with shiny dark green lobes. They have a pungent and pleasant flavour, slightly stronger than that of watercress. The foliage persists throughout winter. This ground cress blooms in the second year, from April to July: it has branched flower spikes that are 50-60 cm (20-24in) tall, bearing small yellow flowers similar to those of mustard. The flowers, pollinated by insects, give way to seeds that can be collected and sown from March to August the following year. The plant dies after producing its flowers and seeds.

Harvest: the leaves should be harvested as needed. Ideally use the fresh leaves on the same day, although they can be kept for 3 days in the refrigerator, wrapped in a damp cloth.

Usage: same as watercress. Raw leaves in salads (in moderation), or to accompany poultry, or cooked in soups. The foliage can be cooked like spinach or braised in a casserole.

Garden cress is planted in the vegetable garden, in well-prepared, loosened soil enriched with compost, which remains slightly moist throughout the growth and flowering season, but not waterlogged. It can also be grown in pots and containers as long as watered regularly. Plant it in a sunny but not scorching position; in full summer, the leaves will remain tender if the plant is slightly shaded in the afternoon.

Tips:

To stagger the harvests, sow the Barbarea seeds you have collected every 15 days. Make sure to water regularly in summer if the weather is dry. If it gets very hot, protect your plants by placing overturned crates on top of them. In case of freezing temperatures, apply a mulch of dry leaves to protect the plants. Early pruning of the forming flower spikes promotes the formation of new shoots and leaves.