If you’re looking for a first “grow your own” project for kids, try your hand at these crackin’ cress heads – they need very little effort and you’ll see results in just a few days.
Cress is one of the easiest things a child can grow. You don’t need soil or potting compost, since cress will happily grow on kitchen paper or cotton wool. And you don’t even need a pot or container, because an empty eggshell does the job perfectly.
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How to Grow Cress Heads
Cress seeds germinate (appear) within a day or so, and you’ll be able to pick some to try – or to make egg and cress sandwiches – within a week to ten days.
Kids really enjoy making these egg cress heads, especially when it comes to decorating the shell to give their cress head a face to match its funky green hair.
What you will need:
- A packet of cress seeds
- Eggs
- Cotton wool
- Markers and googly eyes
Getting Started
First comes the yummy bit – cook and eat the eggs!
Once you’ve eaten your egg and the shell has cooled down, fill the bottom half of the shell with cotton wool. Dampen the cotton wool with a little tap water, taking care not to swamp it.
Sprinkle a few cress seeds on top of the cotton wool (about 10–20 seeds). Stand the egg heads in an egg carton or an egg cup while they grow.
Let the kids paint faces and stick on googly eyes to give their egg shells funny faces to match their green cress hair!
Fancy trying something other than cress heads? There are lots of fun cress ideas to explore, including growing your child’s initial, a message, a pattern or a shape.
You may also enjoy: 10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for First Time Gardeners
Looking After Your Cress Heads
Check your cress heads daily to see if they need water – don’t overdo it though, as too much water can drown the little seeds.
You’ll start to notice the seeds germinate (appear) within a few days. Once they reach about 5cm in height, you can harvest them. The easiest way is to snip through the stems with scissors. Cress tastes lovely in egg sandwiches!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does cress take to grow?
Cress seeds usually germinate within a day or two, and you can harvest the cress for eating within a week to ten days of sowing.
Do I need soil to grow cress?
No. Cress grows happily on damp cotton wool or kitchen paper, which makes it a brilliant mess-free project for kids.
How do I water my cress heads?
Check them daily and add a small amount of water if the cotton wool looks dry. Avoid soaking it, as too much water can drown the seeds.
When is cress ready to pick?
Once the shoots reach about 5cm tall, you can snip them with scissors and use them straight away in sandwiches or salads.
Can I reuse the eggshells?
Each cress head is a one-off project, since the shell holds the cotton wool and roots. Once you’ve harvested the cress, compost the shell and cotton wool and start a fresh batch for the next round.
Have you tried growing cress heads with your kids? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear how they turned out!
Related Articles
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- 7 Fun Cress Ideas to Introduce Your Child to Growing Your Own
- 10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for First Time Gardeners
- How to Grow Your Own Pizza Garden
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