When to Plant Upland Cress in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Upland Cress guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Feb to Sep
- Days to harvest
- 40 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Barbarea verna. Land cress: peppery edible leaves grown in moist garden soil, distinct from aquatic watercress and garden cress.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb S/D
- Mar S/T/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul S/T/D
- Aug S/T/D
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Upland Cress in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, organic loam
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 15-20cm apart, 20cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep the soil consistently moist. It needs less water than watercress and tolerates drier conditions than watercress.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Onion, Sweet Corn, Radish, Chives
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Upland Cress
Recommended Varieties
- American Upland (Barbarea verna): Thin to 15 to 20 cm apart
Key Challenges
- Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars: Caterpillars consume foliage
- Diamondback moth caterpillars: Chewed leaves and small window-like holes
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Downy Mildew: Weakens leaves and can spoil the curd in wet weather
Pro Tips
- Incorporate well-rotted manure or compost before planting; apply a nitrogen-rich liquid organic fertiliser fortnightly during growth
- Apply a light organic straw mulch around plants to retain soil moisture, keep roots cool, and reduce weed competition
Pests and problems for Upland Cress in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Downy Mildew Space plants as recommended, rotate with non-brassicas and avoid overhead watering late in the day. The Mr Fothergill's page notes... Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
- Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars: Caterpillars consume foliage Watch
- Diamondback moth caterpillars Diamondback moth caterpillars: Chewed leaves and small window-like holes Watch
Harvesting Upland Cress
When ready: Rosettes form mature peppery leaves at 10 to 15 cm long, roughly 40 to 50 days after sowing
How to harvest: Snip outer leaves near the base with sharp scissors for cut-and-come-again harvesting, allowing the crown to continue producing
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Upland Cress
When do you plant upland cress in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to May, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Feb to Jun, Aug to Oct
Can you grow upland cress all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Feb to Sep. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Upland Cress in Alice Springs?
Sow direct from February to September, or start in trays and plant out from March to September.
What soil temperature do Upland Cress need?
Upland Cress germinate best when soil temperature is between 12°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Upland Cress are ready to harvest?
Rosettes form mature peppery leaves at 10 to 15 cm long, roughly 40 to 50 days after sowing
What are the best Upland Cress varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: American Upland (Barbarea verna): Thin to 15 to 20 cm apart.
What grows well with Upland Cress?
Good companion plants for Upland Cress include: Lettuce, Onion, Sweet Corn, Radish, Chives.
Are upland cress salt tolerant?
Only a little. Upland cress are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.