Hi, I thought I'd try and resurrect this thread. We have a spring in the field next door, it flows through our garden as a stream. I managed to grow lots of watercress last year but now question whether it is safe to eat?
There are cows in the field over winter but it's clear of cattle May - Nov, they have access to the Spring. The water can get deeper in winter but remains very low the rest of the year.
From reading on here and google I think there could be a risk of liver fluke due to the cows (unless they're treated)? But if we only pick that which has not been submerged, boil it or wash it in a mix of vinegar/water it should be safe?
Would you eat it??
It seems ridiculous to grow some in a container when there's a lovely stream.
I wouldn't eat it if the stream passes through grazed pasture - even if the cattle are off the land for some of the time. Not sure of the biology, but I wouldn't risk it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you.... totally forgot about this thread I started. I went to my local garden centre to buy a few packets of seeds and to my surprise they now stock watercress seeds so I'll be growning it safely on my veg patch.
Posts
I love a bit of dirt
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
There are cows in the field over winter but it's clear of cattle May - Nov, they have access to the Spring. The water can get deeper in winter but remains very low the rest of the year.
From reading on here and google I think there could be a risk of liver fluke due to the cows (unless they're treated)? But if we only pick that which has not been submerged, boil it or wash it in a mix of vinegar/water it should be safe?
Would you eat it??
It seems ridiculous to grow some in a container when there's a lovely stream.
I wouldn't eat it if the stream passes through grazed pasture - even if the cattle are off the land for some of the time. Not sure of the biology, but I wouldn't risk it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you.... totally forgot about this thread I started. I went to my local garden centre to buy a few packets of seeds and to my surprise they now stock watercress seeds so I'll be growning it safely on my veg patch.
A quick pic.... I do eat a lot of watercress so hope they are successful.
If you cut watercress does it re-grow from the roots?
Thanks 1Runnybeak1
Thank you Runnybeak.... I'm looking forward to seeing/tasting the outcome.... I make a lot of watercress soup winter or summer.
Flowerlover....This will be the first time that I have grown it.....