This guide is derived and condensed from Danziger's Lepidium Cultivation Guide. We highly recommend reading it in its entirety, as it contains essential growing information. Danziger is the breeder of our Gypsophila, Veronica Skyler, Glory Solidago, and Scoop Scabiosa.
| Common Name | Lepidium (aka Pepper Cress, Penny Cress) |
| Genus | Lepidium |
| Species | L. ruderale |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Life Cycle | Annual / Biennial |
| Tray Size | 128 cell full tray |
| Plug Care | Harden off for the field, or transplant right away into a tunnel. If you cannot transplant, bump up to larger pots. During the first ten days after transplant (establishment stage), overhead irrigation should be used and can be supplemented with drip irrigation and fertilizer. |
| Netting / Staking | 1 to 2 layers of netting |
| Temperature Range | Plant plugs out after your last outdoor frost in springtime. This Lepidium has been bred to for production on equatorial flower farms and we do not yet have hardiness data. It is likely frost hardy but we cannot yet make this claim. You can also plant in the fall for spring harvest in mild winter areas. Treat as you would other pepper cress varieties. |
| Spacing | Plant multi seeded plugs 9" apart. |
| Soil Preference | All types of drained soils, light soils are preferable. |
| Day Length | Best planted under short day conditions for bloom during long day conditions. |
| Pinching | If you see too many shoots emerging consider thinning. Thinning is done from the base leaving 10 sprouting shoots from the top. Thinning allows easier harvesting, transport and sorting, besides allowing the stems to achieve better day light & ventilation, resulting in greener, healthier stems at the end. |
| When to Plant | Plant plugs into cool soil in the spring, soon after your last outdoor frost. Planting should be performed in cool temperatures or under shade net. Mild winter growers can plant in the fall. |
| Harvesting | When the lower fruits of the inflorescence are set, harvest should start. |
| Post Harvest Care | See the Danziger Lepidium Culture Guide for optimum post harvest solution formula. |
| Diseases / Insects | None indicated. |
| Bailey's Notes | Please see the Danziger Lepidium Culture Guide for recomendations on the application of Gibberellic Acid and Iron to Lepidium crops. Gibberellic Acids are organic, naturally occurring plant hormones that can stimulate germination, increase stem length, and initiate flowering in many cut flower crops. |
| Resources |