Growing mustard from seed is straightforward and rewarding, yielding flavorful leaves for salads, cooking, or even mustard seed production. Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Choosing the Right Time to Plant:
- Mustard is a cool-season crop, so plant it in early spring or late summer/early fall.
- For a spring crop, plant 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost.
- For a fall crop, plant 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost. This allows the plants to mature before winter.
2. Preparing the Soil:
- Select a sunny location. Mustard thrives in at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Ensure the soil is fertile and well-drained. Amend with compost or other organic matter if needed. Mustard prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
3. Sowing the Seeds:
- Plant seeds ½ inch deep.
- You can sow seeds directly into the garden or start them indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost for an earlier harvest.
- If planting directly, sow seeds about 1 inch apart.
4. Thinning Seedlings (if needed):
- Once seedlings emerge and have a few true leaves, thin them to 3 inches apart in rows.
- Space rows 12 inches apart.
- If you started the seeds indoors, harden the seedlings off before transplanting them into the garden, following the same spacing guidelines.
5. Caring for Your Mustard Plants:
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
- Fertilizing: Mustard is a relatively light feeder. You can side-dress with a balanced fertilizer a few weeks after germination or transplanting.
- Weeding: Keep the area around your mustard plants free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and water.
- Pest Control: Monitor for pests like aphids and flea beetles. Treat infestations with insecticidal soap or neem oil if necessary.
6. Harvesting:
- Mustard greens can be harvested at any stage of growth.
- For baby greens, harvest when the leaves are a few inches long.
- For mature leaves, harvest when they are full size, typically 40-60 days after planting.
- To harvest, simply cut the leaves off at the base of the plant. New leaves will grow back for multiple harvests.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow mustard from seed and enjoy fresh, flavorful greens in your garden.
