Mustard is a spinach-like plant used in salads, and its seeds can be used to make mustard powder and spices. Mustard greens can have a sharp or mild taste. This plant grows in a cool climate.
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Part 1 of 2: Growing Mustard
Step 1. Determine if the area is warm enough to plant mustard
This plant is hardy and can overwinter in Zone 7 and up. In cooler climates, you can plant seeds in early spring and harvest them during fall.
- Check zone resilience at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/.
- Begin planting seeds about four weeks before the last frost.
Step 2. Buy mustard seeds
If your local seed shop doesn't sell them, you may need to order them from a seed company through a catalog or online. When buying, be sure to choose a seed type that can grow in a container if you want to grow it in a garden pot.
Try buying seeds like Tokyo Bekana and Komatsuna instead of traditional mustard greens. This type of mustard is generally suitable for use in salads
Step 3. Use soil with a pH between 6 and 6.5 or a potting mix
Plant the seeds in loose soil in a large container at least 0.3 m or 0.3 m below the surface. Mix the soil with compost before planting to improve soil quality.
Order a soil composition test kit if you're not sure what the pH of your garden soil is. Most potting mixes already have the right pH
Step 4. Plant the seeds in the planting medium at a distance of about 0.3 m
Plant three seeds at the same time, then the strongest plant will be selected later. Plant to a depth of 5 mm to 1 cm.
- Plant one to two groups of seeds per pot. The plants will become quite dense when they reach their peak height.
- You can also plant mustard greens on the outskirts of your garden, in window boxes, along roadsides or in flowerbeds.
Step 5. Plant the seeds in February if you can cover and protect them with a protector
Mustard greens can survive the winter, and a slightly cooler climate can make it taste sweeter.
Step 6. Continue planting short rows of seeds every three weeks to ensure a sustainable harvest
The seeds will germinate in seven to 10 days. If the summer is very hot, stop planting and resume in the fall.
Part 2 of 2: Growing and Harvesting Mustard Greens
Step 1. Place the container or planting medium under the sun to accelerate budding
Protect the plant if the weather is too hot, because mustard greens can prematurely in hot weather.
Step 2. Keep the soil moist
You may need to water the container daily or every few days. If the soil dries, the seeds will also dry out.
Step 3. Weed the soil continuously
Mustard can not grow together with other plants.
Step 4. Move the plant to a cooler area if the weather gets very hot
Plants will be premature in dry or very hot weather.
Step 5. Harvest by cutting some of the outer leaves from the plant
Do not cut all the leaves at once. The bigger the leaf, the more bitter it will taste.
