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How to Grow Mustard Greens: Complete Planting & Care Guide
In This Article
Mustard greens (Brassica juncea), are a cool-season crop, lending a peppery zest to salads, soups, and sautés that enriches any meal with their nutritional value. Truly hardy, low-maintenance greens, mustard greens grow rapidly through the cooler seasons of the year. They are packed full of vitamins A, C, and K. As members of the Brassica family, like their brothers and sisters, mustard greens do extremely well in both the spring and fall seasons, continuing to give fresh leaves throughout cooler months when other greens may falter. Learn everything about growing, caring for, and enjoying your mustard greens in your garden or pots, from the best variety to choose from to how to protect them from pests.
| Common Name | Mustard Greens |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Brassica juncea |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Plant Type | Leafy green vegetable |
| Planting Season | Early spring or fall |
| Growth Time | 30 to 45 days |
| Preferred Climate | Cool season with light frost tolerance |
| Soil Requirements | Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 |
| Nutrient Needs | Light feeder, add compost or balanced fertilizer |
| Companion Plants | Pairs well with onions and carrots, avoid planting near other cabbage family crops |
| Frost Tolerance | Hardy, flavor improves with light frost |
| Harvest Time | Harvest when leaves reach 4 to 6 inches |
| Edible Parts | Leaves and stems |
Choosing the Right Variety
The best varieties of mustard greens depend on climate, taste, and use. Some common types include:
- ‘Florida Broadleaf‘: Sweet and very large, smooth leaves; excellent for salads and cooking.
- ‘Red Giant‘: Bold, purple-red colour and spicy flavour, colours up any dish.
- ‘Southern Giant Curled‘: Frost tolerant, classic peppery flavour, excellent in cooler climates.
- ‘Green Wave‘: Heat-tolerant type, bears leaves with wavy margins, very good raw or cooked.
- ‘Mizuna‘: This Japanese variety sports pointed, feathery leaves and has a mild flavour, great in salads.
This will help you succeed with your crop by selecting a variety that will fit your climate and culinary taste.
How to Plant Mustard Greens
In the case of mustard greens, they require well-draining fertile soils with organic matter additions for their growth. The best soil pH for this is between 6.0 and 7.5, giving a good percentage of nutrient uptake, hence the ideal soil pH is within this range. Soil preparation, before planting, makes it loose and has compost or well-rotted manure added to it.
- Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep, 4-6 inches apart, with rows 12-18 inches apart, allowing for air circulation and plant growth.
- Spring planting, three weeks before the last frost should be done, and late summer will yield a fall harvest.
- When the seedlings are up and a few inches tall, thin them out so they are not crowded. This allows for them to have good roots with no problems due to poor air circulation, such as disease.
Growing Mustard Greens in Containers
Mustard greens grow container-wise fairly well, where the area is small or the grower wants to move plants to take advantage of the sun’s changes in position. Take a container that’s at least 12 inches deep with accommodations for root development and fill with an improved potting mix that drains well, with compost or a slow-release fertilizer. Since containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, check soil regularly and water as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist.
It also has a placement consideration wherein container-grown mustard greens do prefer full to partial sunlight but enjoys afternoon shade in hotter climates as protection against bolting. You can easily extend the seasons by moving the pots during cold periods in or to some protected location.
Caring for Mustard Greens
Care for the mustard greens includes keeping the soil consistently moist, with occasional fertilization, for the best production of leaves. The plants have to be kept well-watered; usually, about 1 to 2 inches of water a week is what they require, depending on weather conditions. Mulching around the base of the plants helps retain moisture and cools the soil, hence extending the growing season in warmer climates.
Periodic feeding with a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks will also help along the growth of the greens. High-nitrogen fertilizers should be avoided, however, since these can produce overly spicy leaves, which is usually not desirable. And if you are growing in a warm region, watch the plants carefully during periods of hot days that may cause bolting. Once flowering has begun, the plants become bitter and lose quality.
Pest and Disease Control
While mustard greens are generally quite hardy, the plant does fall victim to a number of common pests and diseases. Here’s how to control them:
- Flea Beetles: These tiny insects chew small holes in leaves. Use row covers to prevent an infestation, or treat as needed with organic insecticides.
- Aphids: Leaves will either curl or turn yellow. A good control would be spraying leaves with water or insecticidal soap.
- Alternaria Leaf Spot: It’s caused by a fungus; leaves will develop small brown spots. To prevent disease, avoid overhead irrigation, spacing of the plants appropriately and crop rotation are practiced.
- Clubroot: This is a soil-borne disease leading to stunted growth. Application of lime in the soil and rotation after every season helps reduce this problem.
Harvesting Mustard Greens
Most varieties of mustard greens are usually ready for harvest in 30-45 days after their planting. These greens can be used when the leaves get large enough by simply picking off the outer ones, allowing the plant to keep growing, or by reaping the whole plant, cutting just above the base. This will encourage new growth and give you fresh leaves all season by regularly picking off the leaves. If flowers are seen to start forming, it is best to harvest immediately because this means that the plant is bolting and can be developing a bitter taste in the leaves.
Culinary Uses and Storage
Mustard greens are fairly pungent, peppery in flavor; they are great in salads, sautés, soups, and stir-fries. If you want to preserve them a little longer, just plunge the leaves for a few seconds into boiling water, immediately plunge them into cold water, and freeze them for use in all other cooking later on. Of course, you can also dehydrate your greens if you ever want to toss them into soups or stews during the winter.
FAQs
What time of the year is best to plant mustard greens?
Cool-weather greens like mustard grow best in early spring and late summer. For spring crops, start seedlings indoors or outdoors a few weeks before the last frost. Re-seeding in late summer allows for harvest well into fall, and even winter in milder climates.
Can mustard greens be grown indoors or in containers?
Yes, mustard greens grow well in containers or even indoors if conditions are right. Use a container with good drainage and potting mix with compost. Place the container in a sunny spot or use grow lights indoors, and keep the soil consistently moist.
How do I harvest mustard greens without harming the plant?
Harvest by removing the outer leaves once they’re a good size, allowing the center to continue growing. Alternatively, cut the plant about an inch above the ground for it to regrow, offering a potential second harvest.
How can I prevent mustard greens from bolting?
Bolting occurs in warmer weather. To prevent it, plant mustard greens during the cooler seasons and provide afternoon shade. Regular harvesting delays bolting, keeping leaves tender and flavorful for a longer period.
