While I hail from the Southern United States, my family never cultivated mustard greens – an omission that might raise eyebrows among native southerners. However, once I established my own farm as an adult, I discovered the joys of growing these versatile greens and now consider them a staple. Mustard greens bring a delightful zing to various dishes, and their cultivation is surprisingly effortless.
As it turns out, mustard greens are incredibly adaptable.
You can harvest micro-greens in under a week for a quick burst of flavor or allow the older leaves to mature, providing a continuous supply. Additionally, they’re well-suited for season extension and overwintering, making them an excellent choice for gardeners looking to maximize their yields.
While mustard greens may not receive the same level of admiration outside of Southern culture, I firmly believe they deserve more love.
The raw leaves possess a unique flavor profile that’s reminiscent of mustard and horseradish – a true delight in salads. Even those who aren’t fond of raw greens often find cooked mustard greens to be a mellow, peppery addition to stir-fries and casseroles.
Convinced you’re ready to bring the benefits of mustard greens into your life? Let’s get started.
Mustard Green Varieties
I’m delighted to share my enthusiasm for the diverse world of mustard greens! Among my favorites, Red Giant stands out for its exceptional flavor and thick leaves that hold up beautifully to cooking. This Japanese variety boasts a bold taste with hints of raw garlic, making it an excellent addition to salads. Its tolerance of summer sun and ability to thrive in part shade make it a versatile choice.
Additionally, Red Giant’s insect-resistant qualities and stunning reddish-purple foliage make it a showstopper in the garden. Scarlet Frills takes the prize for its striking appearance and spicy kick. With deep red, serrated leaves, this variety is perfect for raw consumption and doesn’t require cooking to shine. However, it’s not heat-tolerant, so it’s best grown early and late in warm areas. Green Wave earns praise for being slower to bolt than other varieties.
Its hot, spicy flavor earned it an All American Selection (AAS) win, and its cold resistance makes it a reliable choice. Reaching heights of up to 2 feet, this high-yielding variety takes around 50 days to mature. Ruby Streaks boasts gorgeous lacy leaves with a slightly sweet note that’s tempered by a pungent flavor. Not only can you enjoy the spicy flowers, but this cold-hardy variety also grows quickly, with baby leaves ready in just 20 days and full-size leaves in 45.
Southern Giant, another AAS winner, offers a milder flavor than some of its peers. This slow-to-bolt heirloom is a perennial favorite among cooks due to its cold resistance and freezing potential. Young leaves mature in 50 days, while older leaves take around 70. Purplewave produces stunning lacy leaves with a subtle purple hue that’s almost as captivating as its spicy-hot flavor.
Cold-hardy and growing up to 18 inches tall, this variety is perfect for microgreens or mature leaves that are ready in 40-55 days. Carolina Broadleaf, a newer breed, addresses the common problem of blight affecting traditional ‘Florida Broadleaf’ varieties. Its unique characteristics make it particularly tasty and capable of reaching impressive heights of up to 2 feet. Maturity is achieved within 42 days.
Last but not least, Mizuna, originating from Japan, offers a subtle flavor with bright green, serrated leaves that add a mellow spice to mixed salads. This heat- and cold-tolerant variety bolts slowly and can be enjoyed both cooked and raw, maturing in 40-50 days.
Planting Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are delightfully uncomplicated to cultivate. A key benefit is their ability to provide extended harvests, making them an ideal choice for gardeners seeking a reliable crop. Furthermore, they thrive in diverse environments, including pots, raised beds, tunnels, hydroponic systems, and even microgreens. This versatility makes mustard greens an excellent option for gardeners of all skill levels.
Growing Zones
Soil Requirements
To cultivate thriving mustard greens, it’s essential to provide them with an environment that suits their preferences. Specifically, they thrive in soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5, characterized by good drainage, a sandy texture and high fertility.
Sun and Temperature Requirements
While mustard greens generally thrive in full sun, certain varieties can adapt to partial shade, particularly when grown for their young leaves. Optimal temperature ranges for these plants lie between a cool 50°F and a warm 75°F.
Spring Planting
When planning to harvest greens early in the year, it’s essential to start planting indoors about four weeks prior to the last frost date. This allows for a head start on the growing season and enables you to enjoy fresh greens sooner. Alternatively, you can opt for direct seeding by sowing seeds directly outside from early spring to early fall, depending on your location. For baby greens, plant in shallow furrows that are one-half inch deep, spacing 12 seeds per foot.
For full-sized plants, sow seeds every six inches with rows spaced 12 inches apart.
Fall Planting
In warm regions, mustard greens thrive as a fall crop. To ensure success, direct-sow them in autumn when temperatures begin to drop, allowing for 4-6 weeks before the first frost sets in. For hot climates, consider starting seedlings indoors during the summer and gradually acclimating them to outdoor conditions by bringing them outside during the cooler parts of the day. In my experience, planting fall greens alongside other cool-season crops in mid-September yields a bountiful harvest.
I prefer to plant everything within a four-foot hoop bed, which allows for easy management and protection from frost. As nighttime temperatures dip below 40°F, I cover the bed with row fabric draped over the hoops. Depending on the weather’s unpredictability, I may need to pull back the cover during the day, but this provides us with fresh greens throughout December and even into January.
Seed Germination
When cultivating mustard greens, it’s essential to understand that they have a relatively fast germination process. In ideal soil conditions, these greens can sprout within just 4 to 7 days, making them an attractive option for gardeners seeking a quick harvest.
Transplanting
Once your transplants have grown 3 to 4 leaves, typically around the three-week mark, it’s time to introduce them to the great outdoors. Before making their permanent home, however, give them a week or so of acclimation by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over the course of seven days.
Succession Planting
To maximize your mustard greens yield, consider implementing a continuous harvesting strategy. This involves starting a new crop every few weeks, ensuring there’s sufficient time before the frost sets in. A key aspect of this approach is maintaining a staggered planting schedule, allowing you to continually harvest from one plant while encouraging new growth. Simply pluck several leaves at a time, and the remaining portion of the plant will continue to produce fresh greens.
Alternative Ways of Growing Mustard Greens
You can incorporate mustard greens into your home decor by using their prettier varieties as decorative accents for planters or edible landscaping designs. Alternatively, you can grow them indoors during the winter to add a burst of flavor to sandwiches and salads. Meanwhile, mustard microgreens offer a delicious treat during the dormant season when other options may be scarce.
To grow them indoors, fill an indoor container with moistened potting soil, sprinkle seeds on top, and cover with a ventilated piece of plastic or glass to maintain optimal moisture levels and place it near a light source. Additionally, mustard greens thrive in hydroponic systems, where the wick system is particularly well-suited for their growth.
Caring For Mustard Greens
Weeding
To maintain the health and vigor of your mustard green patch, it’s crucial to keep it free from weeds that compete for resources. Two unwanted visitors are shepherds purse and pigweed, which not only choke out your desired greens but also pose a risk of spreading disease and stealing essential nutrients. Regularly removing these unwanted invaders will help your mustard greens thrive in a weed-free environment.
Fertilizing
Mustard green cultivation relies heavily on consistent fertilization, particularly during their growth stages. To facilitate optimal development, I employ fish emulsion as a foliar spray, targeting the leaves at the onset of each day when stomata are most receptive. As an alternative, or in conjunction with this method, a balanced fertilizer can be applied when plants have reached at least 5 inches in height, providing essential nutrients for continued growth and health.
Water Needs
To keep your growing mustard greens thriving, it’s essential to provide them with a consistent and adequate water supply. Aim for around 1 to 2 inches of water per week, delivered through rainfall or supplemental irrigation as needed.
Crop Rotation
When cultivating mustard greens, it’s essential to practice crop rotation due to their membership in the brassica family. This family also includes vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, radishes, and turnips. To minimize shared pests and diseases, ensure that no two successive plantings from this family occur within a three-year period.
Interestingly, brassicas tend to flourish when planted after legumes, which are heavy nitrogen feeders and can enrich the soil with added nitrates. Nonetheless, if you’ve experienced mold or mildew in previous legume crops, it’s best to avoid planting mustard greens subsequently.
Wintering
Mustard greens are a hardy crop that thrives in cooler temperatures, making them an excellent choice for winter production. As Eliot Coleman notes in his book ‘The Winter Harvest’, mustard greens are one of the top recommendations for greenhouse growing during this time. I’ve had success with cultivating these greens in my own greenhouse setup, and while they may grow at a slower pace than other varieties, this can be attributed to the reduced daylight hours rather than the cold temperatures.
With proper care and harvesting, it’s possible to enjoy a bountiful winter harvest of mustard greens.
Mustard Green Pests and Diseases
Mustard greens, like other members of the Brassica family, are not immune to the challenges posed by pests and diseases. These unwanted visitors can significantly impact the health and productivity of your mustard green crop, making it essential to be aware of common issues and take proactive steps to mitigate them.
Flea Beetles
My experience with cultivating mustard greens has been marred by an unexpected challenge: flea beetles. These tiny, black insects are notorious for creating small holes in the leaves of young plants, often leaving them vulnerable to disease and pests. To mitigate this issue, I’ve found that covering newly planted mustard greens with a floating row cover can be an effective deterrent.
Additionally, applying a layer of straw mulch around the base of the plants has proven to confuse these pesky insects, rendering their attacks less effective. As flea beetles tend to thrive during spring and summer months, planning your harvest for the fall season can also help minimize their impact. It’s essential to note that these pests will overwinter in the soil, so employing fall control methods is crucial to ensuring a successful harvest.
Furthermore, utilizing white sticky traps and biological OMRI controls like neem oil have been instrumental in reducing the flea beetle population.
Aphids
These tiny arachnids have a peculiar affinity for green leaves, where they feast on the plant’s vital fluids. Their ability to reproduce at an alarming rate often means that by the time you notice their presence, it’s already too late – a full-blown infestation has taken hold. To combat these unwanted guests, consider employing neem oil or pyrethrin, both effective methods for eradicating the problem.
Additionally, fostering a healthy environment for natural predators like ladybugs and parasitic wasps can also go a long way in keeping these leaf-sucking arachnids under control.
White Rust
Fungal diseases, such as white rust, can wreak havoc on your plants’ foliage and blossoms. A simple yet effective way to mitigate the issue is by adopting crop rotation practices. Additionally, opt for planting varieties that are naturally resistant to these pesky pathogens. By taking these proactive measures, you’ll be well on your way to preserving a healthy and thriving garden.
Clubroot
Clubroot is a persistent pathogen that can remain in the soil for an extended period of almost 20 years. Its effects are multifaceted, causing stunted growth and wilting in affected plants. Furthermore, the root system will develop distinctive club-like swellings beneath the surface. To manage this issue effectively, incorporating lime into the soil composition can be a valuable strategy.
Additionally, implementing regular crop rotation is crucial to prevent the clubroot from gaining a foothold and minimizing its long-term impact.
Alternaria Blight
Warm, wet conditions are perfect for the proliferation of this fungal pathogen. It can manifest as damping off or leaf spot in mature plant populations. To effectively manage its impact, incorporate copper- or sulfur-based fungicides into your treatment routine. Additionally, maintaining a pest-free environment is crucial, as these unwanted visitors can facilitate the disease’s spread.
Furthermore, implementing crop rotation and drip irrigation strategies can help prevent the pathogen from taking hold.
Diamondback Moth
While diamondback moths are notorious for their appetite for cole crops, particularly mustard greens, it’s crucial to note that they can significantly impede plant growth. On a more positive note, parasitic wasps and spiders see the larvae as a delectable treat, providing a natural form of pest control. To further minimize the impact of diamondback moths, consider implementing crop rotation strategies, which will help discourage their presence in your garden.
Mustard Leafminer
The notorious leafminer earns its moniker from its peculiar habit of excavating mine-like pathways through leaves, ultimately leading to their premature decline. To prevent this unwanted damage, consider employing crop covers when seedlings are young, fostering a hospitable environment for beneficial parasitic wasps. When infestation occurs, promptly remove and destroy affected foliage to curb the spread.
Mustard Sawfly
Mustard sawfly larvae are notorious for their voracious appetite, causing significant damage by creating shot holes through leaves. If left unchecked, an infestation can lead to complete plant skeletonization, resulting in seedlings’ demise. Fortunately, adult flies are easily recognizable due to their distinctive orange and black coloration. If you spot these pests near your plants, it’s crucial to inspect them for larvae immediately.
To manage small infestations, a combination of handpicking and insecticidal soaps can be effective. However, if the issue persists, ensuring the soil is well-cultivated several times over the winter can help expose and eliminate pupae that may have overwintered in the ground.
Painted Bug
The painted bug, also referred to as the bagrada bug, poses a significant threat to mustard green cultivation. The nymphs and adult stages of this pest feed on leaf sap, resulting in wilting and ultimately killing the leaves. This nuisance is commonly found in the Western United States and parts of Texas. To prevent infestations, ensure weeds are under control and practice fall tillage to disrupt any established populations.
Additionally, fostering natural predators like spiders can also help mitigate the issue.
Downy and Powdery Mildew
The brassica family of plants often struggle with downy and powdery mildew, both caused by fungi that reside in the soil and are disseminated through water particles. A variety of factors can facilitate their spread, including fog, high humidity, rain, overhead irrigation, and even dew. Infected leaves typically exhibit chlorosis, characterized by a lack of green coloration, which impairs photosynthesis and leads to orange or grey blotches on the plants.
To effectively manage these issues, gardeners should consider implementing drip irrigation systems, fall soil cultivation, and regular crop rotation schedules. Additionally, OMRI-listed fungicides like Actinovate can be employed, which double as beneficial bacteria.
Companion Plants for Mustard Greens
When cultivating mustard greens, gardeners often face the challenge of insect pests feeding on their crops. One effective approach to mitigate this issue is by incorporating trap crops into your planting strategy. Trap crops serve as a decoy, drawing unwanted insects away from your desired greens and encouraging beneficial insects to take up residence. Certain plants have an added advantage in that they attract natural predators of common pests.
For instance, yarrow and dill are renowned for their ability to draw in ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on aphids. Similarly, mint family members are known to repel flea beetles, making them a valuable companion plant for mustard greens. In addition to these insect-repellent wonders, other plants that make excellent companions for growing mustard greens include dill, fennel, tansy, yarrow, mint, corn, peas, buckwheat, rosemary, thyme, beets, celery, carrots, lettuce, onions, and cucumbers.
However, it’s essential to avoid planting your mustard greens near beans of any kind, as both crops are susceptible to molds and mildews, which can spread between them. It’s best to steer clear of soybeans, sunflowers, and strawberries in this regard.
Harvesting and Storing Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are a versatile crop that can be harvested at various stages of maturity. As microgreens, they’re ready for consumption in just five days, while baby leaves take about 21 days to develop. For full-sized leaves, you’ll need to wait around 37 days. To encourage a continual harvest, pick or snip off larger outer leaves and allow the inner ones to continue growing. These plants are well-suited to repeated harvesting.
When it comes to storing mustard greens, wrap them in thin cotton towels and place them in your refrigerator’s vegetable crisper for up to one week. If you’re a seed saver, be aware that mustard greens can cross-pollinate with broccoli raab, turnips, and Chinese cabbage. To avoid this, ensure a minimum distance of 800 feet between crops. Mustard greens have a unique flavor profile that may become a staple in your household.
If you struggle to convert others to their charm, try cooking them with bacon – it’s hard to resist the combination!
