Barbarea verna 'Sprint' (Curled cress 'Sprint')

Botanical name

Barbarea verna 'Sprint'

Other names

Curled cress 'Sprint', Lepidium 'Sprint'

Genus

Barbarea Barbarea

Variety or Cultivar

'Sprint' _ 'Sprint' is a rosette-forming biennial, often cultivated as an annual salad crop, with edible, lobed, dark green leaves and racemes of cross-shaped, yellow flowers from early spring into summer.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Rosette

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Colour

Foliage

Green in All seasons

General care

Pruning

Leaves can be harvested as early as 15 days after sowing, when plants reach 7-10cm tall. Cut or pinch tips as needed.

Propagation

Sow seeds in situ in succession from early spring to early autumn for a succession of leaves to harvest. Sow seed .5cm deep in rows spaced 45cm apart. Typically self-seeds in ideal conditions.

Propagation methods

Seed, Stem tip cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Barbarea verna 'Sprint' (Curled cress 'Sprint') will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Flavouring food and drinks, Indoor

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Summer crops benefit with some shade, winter crops are best in full sun. Leaves are more pungent in hot weather. Tends to run to seed in hot weather unless kept shaded & moist.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Shade

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Barbarea verna 'Sprint' (Curled cress 'Sprint')

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci non-European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Non-European populations of Bemisia tabaci pose an additional risk to European populations due to the potential for introducing non-European viruses.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Barbarea verna 'Sprint' (Curled cress 'Sprint')

Common pest name

Lance nematode; Nematode; Lance

Scientific pest name

Hoplolaimus spp.

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Nematode species potentially affecting a wide variety of crops; prohibition of soil likely to mitigate risk substantially; keep under review in light of interceptions or findings should they occur in the EU.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Barbarea verna 'Sprint' (Curled cress 'Sprint')

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

The UK has a protected zone in place for this pest which helps to mitigate the risk of entry and establishment. An EFSA opinion is currently being discussed at the EU Annexes Working Group which recommends further strengthening of the regulation.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/