The #1 Mistake You're Making with Watercress Harvesting

Watercress hydroponics, hydroponic greenhouse growing, winter greens, and harvesting watercress — today I’m walking you through exactly how I harvest and package watercress, the most nutrient-dense leafy green in the world. Watercress grows fast, loves moisture, and stays hydrated beautifully for storage when harvested early in the day. I’ll show you how I bunch it, bag it, box it with liners, and prepare it for delivery so it lasts two full weeks in the cooler. Then come along for a full greenhouse update! I walk through: • Mini bok choy • New toca bakana (fast-growing cabbage) • Dandelions • Chrysanthemum greens • Basil • Romaine & lettuce trials • Chinese open-head cabbage • Swiss chard • Leeks, kale, spinach harvest numbers • Red cat soy • My CSA box workflow • Greenhouse sanitation & reuse strategies • And a look at my leather crafting hobby between harvests Watercress is incredibly nutritious — even more than kale — and the whole plant is edible. I also share how we cook it: egg sandwiches, fritters, and my favorite watercress soup recipe. If you enjoy this style of greenhouse tour + harvest videos, please consider subscribing! Recipe links mentioned: • Watercress Soup • Watercress Fritters • Leafy greens bags & liners (links below) Our Facebook Page:   / bradwoodfarm   Our Instagram:   / bradwoodfarm   Our Webpage: https://www.bradwoodfarm.com Our Address: 1130 E. Main Street Suite 118 Ashland, OH 44805. Plastic Produce bags: 12 x 20 Plastic Produce Bag on a Roll, 2 Rolls, 350 Bags Per Roll, 700 Bags https://amzn.to/3LWsmrc Doug's Starting Leather Kit: https://amzn.to/3t8sxH4 Rapid Rooter Link: 50 Count: https: https://amzn.to/357J31Q 100 Count: https://amzn.to/3BizmcT Grow Bags: 50 Count: https://amzn.to/33zIGwK 100 Count: https://amzn.to/3H0GyvD NextLight Grow lights: https://amzn.to/3Bt056F Heavy Duty Grow bags: https://amzn.to/35URRZh Dutch Bucket: https://amzn.to/34KuFwJ Dutch Bucket System: https://amzn.to/3h8DWBv Microgreen emitters: https://amzn.to/3LHC14Q Watercress Soup Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter 2 cups white or yellow onion, chopped Salt 1 cup white wine, chicken stock, or vegetable stock (wine or veg stock for vegetarian version) 1-pound potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 6 cups water 6 cups fresh watercress, about 1/2 pound, chopped, stems included 1/2 teaspoon black pepper About 6 tablespoons sour cream, stirred in, or for garnish Cook the onions in the melted butter: In a large pot, heat the butter until froth. Then, add the onions, cooking over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Salt the onions as they cook. cook onions for base of watercress soup Add the wine and potatoes and simmer: Add the wine (or stock), potatoes and water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low. Cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. potatoes cooking in stock in pot for watercress soup Add the watercress: Add the watercress to the pot. Stir well and cook for 2 more minutes. add chopped watercress to soup in pot Purée the soup: Turn off the heat and purée the soup with an immersion blender. If you don't have an immersion blender, pour the soup in batches into a regular blender and transfer the blended soup to a clean pot. Be very careful when blending hot liquids to only fill the bowl a third of the way, and to hold down the blender's lid while you purée. puree watercress soup Season and garnish before serving: Add salt to taste, then, add the black pepper. You can either stir the sour cream into the whole batch of soup or serve a tablespoon in the center of each person's bowl. 00:00 — Watercress Harvest Day Intro 00:26 — Why I Harvest Early (Shelf Life Tip) 01:05 — Greenhouse Tour: Mini Bok Choy 02:02 — Clogged Emitter Fix 02:33 — Toca Bakana & Dandelions 03:15 — Chrysanthemum Greens 03:45 — Basil Update 04:12 — Lettuce & Cultivar Trials 04:49 — Chinese Red Cabbage & Swiss Chard 05:30 — Leeks, Tarragon & Kale 06:18 — Red Cat Soy 06:50 — CSA Boxes & Reuse System 07:45 — Box Liners & Packing Tips 08:35 — How I Harvest Watercress (Under the Channels!) 09:40 — Roots & Bunching Technique 10:22 — Why Watercress Is So Nutritious 11:05 — How We Cook Watercress 12:02 — Packing, Folding & Cooler Storage 12:58 — Leathercraft Hobby 14:15 — Final Boxes in Cooler 14:45 — Outro + Call to Subscribe