Just about every home has a jar of mustard greens in the kitchen – it ’s one of the most - loved condiment in the world . Mustard seed themselves are also a popular spicery in so many cuisine . While jars of mustard and package of culinary mustard seeds are easy to number by , nothing quite beats the gratification of growing your own . What construct the Indian mustard plant even more rewarding to grow is the fact that its leaves are edible too – they ’re lusciously punchy and peppery , just like the condiment itself .
Growing Mustard: A Quick Snapshot
When to Sow – Apr - Sep
When to establish – May - Sep
When to glean – May - Nov
Average fruit per works – 200 g of leaves/30 - 40 K of seed
Spacing – 15 - 20 centimeter
Depth – 2 cm
How to Grow Mustard at Home
mustard greens is acool time of year crop , making it a majuscule one to grow in the spring and summertime . It ’s an easy craw to naturalize – it is n’t picky about growing conditions and does n’t require much forethought . Give it the staple and you ’ll be harvest from your plants in just a couple of month sentence .
Growing Requirements for Mustard
Although mustard does well in cooler temperatures , it needs lots of sun to flourish . Ideally , originate your plant somewhere where they ’ll receivefull sun or partial shade .
table mustard will grow in just about every soil eccentric . However , for the big yields , give your plants arich and well - run out growing surface area . This not only improves yield , but it will also give you tastier farewell and seminal fluid .
In term of sizing , Indian mustard plants grow to around a metre or two in height . However , this varies depend on assortment – you ’ll find some that hang glide much higher , specially once they ’ve flower , but there are also shadow potpourri useable .
One final level to keep in mind is thatmustard is a appendage of thebrassicafamily . If you practice crop revolution in your garden , you ’ll need to avoid planting mustard anywhere that previously housedanother brassica .
How to Grow Mustard from Seed
Mustard is extremely easy to grow from germ . If you were to just discombobulate some seeds down and then blank out about them for a yoke of months , you ’d still end up with leaf mustard plants to harvest . However , do things this agency and yield wo n’t be great . Just like with every other works , mustard does much good when apply right concern .
Since it grows so cursorily , mustard greens is commonly direct sown outdoors . However , for an earlier harvest time , start your plant life in modules indoorsbefore moving them outdoors once you ’ve had your last freeze .
How to Sow Mustard Seeds in Modules:
mustard greens burgeon forth quick – require to see seedlings in about a week . Once they emerge , move your modules somewhere sunny , and keep your seedlings moist . After a week or so , slenderize your seedlings out so that there are just 2 - 4 seedling in each module .
How to Direct Sow Mustard Seeds:
After a hebdomad or so , your mustard seeds will germinate . Give them a few day to grow before thinning them out , leaving15 - 20 atomic number 96 of space between each plant(ideal spacing will look on the variety that you ’re grow ) .
How to Plant Mustard Outside
Once you ’ve had your last spring hoarfrost , you’re able to plant your mustard seedlings out of doors . Although they ’re patient of of cool temperature , indurate them off for a weekor so before transplanting . This will help them to establish faster once they ’re in the ground .
When you ’re ready to start institute , turn over small cakehole in the undercoat . They only necessitate to be slightly wider and deeper than the root musket ball of your seedlings . Space each hollow 15 - 20 cm apart . The more space you give your works , the larger and bushier they ’ll be capable to arise .
locate your seedling into their raw homes , cover over with soil , and firm down . Then , give them some piss .
How to Plant Mustard in a Greenhouse
Mustard does n’t do well in quick temperatures . This will get the plant to bolt , meaning that it ’ll originate to flower and produce seed earlier than it should . You may think that this is beneficial if mustard source are your aim , butseeds collected from plants that have absquatulate ahead of time will be lacking in flavour . fruit will also be significantly minor .
However , that ’s not to say that mustard ca n’t be grown ina greenhouse – you just need to clock thing right . utilize your glasshouse to develop an early spring harvest of leaf mustard , as well as a late craw that you’re able to glean greens from well into the winter . If you live in a modest orbit and can keep your greenhouse frost - free , then you may even be able to grow mustard greens industrial plant class - round .
Another pick would be to uprise your mustard in containers . This agency , you’re able to start out them off in a greenhouse before moving them outside when temperatures start to rise . The size of the pot that you use will order how large your plants grow . If baby mustard leaves are what you want , a lowly container will influence well . However , if you want large , full - sized leaf , as well as a adept crop of seed , go forpots that are at least 15 atomic number 96 deep .
How to Care for Mustard
You ’ll be happy to love thatmustard require very picayune concern – it ’ll be one of the lowest sustainment crops in your garden . That say , if you ’re hoping for maximal yields , make certain that your plants are receiving the basics :
Watering Mustard
The soil that your mustard plants are growing in should never be allowed to dry out out . If this pass off , it will greatly impact the flavour of your plants , and will also cause them to bolt .
Ideally , your industrial plant should be receiving about5 atomic number 96 of pee a hebdomad . Since you ’ll likely be arise leaf mustard during the cooler months of the year , rain will often put up enough . However , if you experience a dry magic spell , manual wateringis a must .
Feeding Mustard
Mustard develop for leafage does n’t need any fertiliser . In fact , Indian mustard works are often used as a green manurebecause they ’re able to draw food up from mysterious within the grime .
However , if you ’re design on harvesting seeds , thengive your plants a feed of a balanced fertiliser once they ’re about 10 cm tall . Again , this is n’t strictly necessary , especially if your plants are develop in effective quality grunge , but it will help to maximise yield .
Weeding Mustard
You ’ll need to keep your table mustard grow areaweed - freefor the first distich of week . However , after this , your plants should be capable to resist for themselves . table mustard foliage is big enough to repress out any green goddess that emerge around the plant , imply that manual weeding is n’t normally needed . This is something else that makes mustard such a great immature manure craw .
How to Harvest Mustard
Mustard is a fast - grower . You should havebaby leave ready for harvesting just four or five week after your seeds have germinated . If you ’re growing your plants for seeds , you ’ll postulate to wait a picayune longer .
Harvesting Mustard Leaves
Mustard leave-taking can be reap as and when they ’re needed . just pluck off individual leaves . The smaller the leaves are , the more tender they ’ll bewhen eaten raw , although larger leaves are better for cooking with .
If you ’re not interested in harvesting any seeds , then you ’ll need to do a final leafage harvest once your plant start bloom . Either strip all of the leave of absence off the plant , or cut the entire plant off at its base .
Harvesting Mustard Seeds
Even if you ’re chiefly growing your mustard plants for seed , you could still reap their leaf . However , be thrifty not to over - clean the foliage – the plants will need some to produce a skillful harvest of seeds .
To harvest the seed , you ’ll need to wait for your flora to flower . As these flower die back , seed pods will take their post . The source pod start off green and then slowly mature to a wakeful brown colour . Once they ’re brown , this means that they ’re fully dry , but , ideally , you should harvest them just before . As soon as the pod have dry out on the plant , they ’ll split unfastened and scatter their seed , get out you with none to glean .
So , begin picking pods while they ’re still unripe , but have a chocolate-brown tinge . direct the pod into a report bag and put in them somewhere cool , dismal , and dry for two week , so that they can eat up ripening .
After this , the pods should open up on their own . If they do n’t , lightly squeeze the bag to advance the pods to release their seed . Then , divide the seed from the pods , off any other plant debris that you come across .
How to Store Mustard
Your storage options will vary look on whether you ’ve glean mustard greens or table mustard germ :
Storing Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are best rust fresh . However , they ’ll also keep for a few day in the electric refrigerator , so long as you place them into an airtight bag .
For prospicient - term storage of leaves , freezing is your best option . The leaves will need to be pale first , after which they can be placed into airtight bags and then icy . Alternatively , blanch them and then flash freeze them on a tray , before rate them all into a dish . This will freeze each leafage severally , rather than in a large clump , which makes them easier to expend in minor quantities .
Storing Mustard Seeds
Since you ’ve already dried your mustard semen , they ’re ready to be stored . merely place them into a dark , airtight container and they ’ll keep for a couple of eld .
How to Prepare & Cook Mustard
leaf mustard leafy vegetable and Indian mustard seeds are used in the kitchen in very dissimilar ways . While mustard leaves are handle as a leafy green , mustard greens seed are used as a spice .
Preparing & Cooking Mustard Greens
preparedness is elementary – wash and dry out your leaf mustard leaf and they ’re upright to go . new mustard greens leaves are a greatsalad ingredient , and can also be used as a peppery garnish on just about everything .
Larger and older leaves will call for to be cooked . They can be treat just like any other leafy green , ca-ca them incredibly versatile . Some of the beauty in which leaf mustard greens really stand out are :
Preparing & Cooking Mustard Seeds
leaf mustard seeds are a howling spice . Toast them whole and then use them in curries and call down Christopher Fry , or try on using them when pickling for a punchy destination .
You could also employ your homegrown mustard seeded player to create the classic condiment itself :
You ’ll call for to first grind your seeds into a powder ( which is also worth storing to use in spice hang-up ) , before mixing the powder with a few other spices . Cook your concoction in water , add a bit of acetum , and your homemade mustard will soon be ready . There are plenty of recipes out there , each one putting its own unique twist on this traditional classic .
Generally , the sullen the come , the spicier the table mustard .
Common Mustard Problems
Unlike most of theother brassicasout there , mustard does n’t have many pests and diseases to deal with . In fact , the plants are often used to repel sure pests . That enounce , you ’ll still postulate to keep an oculus out for the following topic :
Popular Mustard Varieties to Grow
There are several mustard varieties out there . Some are grown for their leaves while others are grown for their source , make it important to choose a variety that will provide what you need .
Conclusion
leaf mustard leaves and seeds are packed with nutrients and powerful compounds , to the head where they were even heavily featured in traditional medicines . Even better , the plants are so easy to maturate , and with so many sort available offer up ornamental properties , they ’ll aid to give your garden some supernumerary colour and texture .
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