How to grow Mustard Greens?
- Latin Family: Brassicaceae
- Latin Genus: Brassica
- Ease of Growing: Temperamental
- Growing Type: Annual
Mustard is an easily grown and fast maturing crop (often as little as 30 days). It produces heavily in a small area and requires little effort to grow. It does need cool weather though.
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Mustard Greens History
Mustard greens have been most highly refined in Asia where they are a very important cool season vegetable. There are many different types and varieties available there. They have long been popular in the deep south as an easy, cold-weather tolerant winter vegetable.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 5.5 - 6.8
- PH Ideal (min/max): 6.0 - 6.3
Mustards aren't particularly fussy about soils, but are most productive on rich moisture retentive ones.
How to care for Mustard Greens?
The plants need even watering and cool temperatures. If there is a slow down or interruption in growth they may bolt prematurely. If they do bolt, don't worry. You can eat the flower stalks like Broccoli Raab.
Water
If you want tasty, mild flavored mustard greens (and you do) you must keep the soil moist at all times. If the soil is too dry the plants will develop a bitter and pungent flavor.
Fertilizer
High nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous. The Mustards need fertile soil to produce well.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 4 - 5 Years
Germination Percentage: 75.0
It's easy to save seed from these annuals. Just treat them like kale and gather the seed at the appropriate time. Be aware that it can become a weed if it gets established (though perhaps not an unwelcome one).
Mustard can produce far more seed than you need for propagation. You can use the surplus for growing cut- and come-again salad greens and micro-greens, or for sprouting like alfalfa (they make excellent, slightly spicy sprouts). They can even be used for making the condiment mustard.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Full sun.
Conditions:Cold, Cool
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Part shade
Mustard Greens will grow pretty well in shade.
Conditions:Cool
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
Mustards can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 7 days (how long depends upon the variety).
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: °F
Storage Length: 3-7 days
Problems
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails can be a serious problem in early spring when there is not much else for them to eat. They can wipe out a new planting almost overnight.
Bolting
Mustard isn't a very long lived crop and is very prone to [bolt]ing if conditions aren't ideal (or if the day length is too long).
Mustard Greens Types
- Curled
- Asian Mustard
- Japanese Mustard
- Mix
- Broad leaf
This type of mustard is very popular in the southern U.S. where it is an important cool weather vegetable. Under good growing conditions, mustard can be one of the fastest growing crops.
Asian Mustards come in a variety of leafy and head-like plants. They may vary in color from deep dark green to dark red to a combination of greenish purple. The stems are often white.
These Japanese Mustards produce an abundance of tender greens that are mild flavored enough for salads. They are an ingredient in most commercial salad mixes. They are also a good cut-and-come-again crop as they can be harvested several times.
This type of mustard is grown to be harvested while the leaves are still young, succulent and delicious.
This type of mustard is very popular in the southern U.S. where it is an important cool weather vegetable. Under good growing conditions, mustard can be one of the fastest growing crops.
Pests
- Cabbageworms
- Cabbage Root Maggot
- Birds
- Leafhoppers
- Aphids
- Cutworms
- Whiteflies
- Leafminers
- Slugs and snails
- Groundhog
- Gophers
- Deer
Diseases
- Clubroot
- Damping Off
- Powdery Mildew
Related Plants
Greens, Juicing
Sprouts
Seacale
Kohlrabi
Collards
Anise
Caraway
Cumin
Cauliflower
Culantro