🥦 Mustard Greens

Brassica juncea

vegetables brassica (leafy green, Asian/mustard family) Brassicaceae

☀️ Sun

Full sun (6 hours) in cool weather; partial shade in warm weather to delay bolting; afternoon shade extends harvest season

💧 Water

Medium; 1 inch per week consistently; mustards bolt rapidly with drought stress; consistent moisture produces tender, less pungent leaves

🗺️ Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

🧪 Soil pH

6.0, 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline)

🪴 Soil Type

Rich, well-drained loam with moderate organic matter; mustard greens are fast-growing and need readily available nutrients; incorporate compost; too much nitrogen produces overly hot/pungent leaves

🚿 Drainage

Well-drained; mustard greens tolerate a range of conditions but produce best in moist, well-drained soil

📏 Spacing

Baby greens: broadcast sow densely; full-size: 4, 6 inches apart, rows 12, 18 inches; for seed production: 12, 18 inches apart, rows 24 inches

📐 Height

18-36 in

⏱️ Maturity

30-50 days (from seed); baby greens at 21-30 days

🍴 Edible Parts

🍽️ Leaves (raw in salads when young, cooked when mature) 🍽️ Stems (tender stems cooked with leaves) 🍽️ Flower buds/stalks (edible , like broccoli raab) 🍽️ Seeds (the source of mustard condiment , ground seeds + liquid) 🍽️ Seed sprouts (popular as microgreens)

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (13)

🤝 Basil

Aromatic herb that improves health of neighboring plants

🤝 Chamomile

Improves brassica flavor; antifungal properties; attracts beneficial insects

🤝 Dill

Attracts parasitic wasps and hoverflies that eat cabbage worms and aphids; improves growth; dill's aromatic compounds may deter flea beetles

🤝 Marigold

Universal garden companion; deters pests and attracts beneficials

🤝 Mint (contained)

Repels flea beetles and cabbage moths; must be container-grown to prevent aggressive spreading

🤝 Nasturtium

Excellent trap crop , flea beetles and aphids prefer nasturtiums over mustard greens IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.

🤝 Onion

Allium pest protection for mustard

🤝 Pea

Peas fix nitrogen; mustard and peas have complementary seasons , peas finish as mustard matures; different pest profiles

🤝 Rosemary/Sage

Aromatic oils repel flea beetles and cabbage moths; strong scent masks mustard's host-finding cues

⚠️ Keep Apart (10)

⚠️ Bean (pole/runner)

Brassica root exudates may inhibit bean growth; beans' nitrogen may cause mustard to bolt faster

⚠️ Beet

Beet and mustard greens are incompatible , competing nutrients, shared disease risks, or allelopathic interference.

⚠️ Fennel

Allelopathic , severely inhibits mustard growth

⚠️ Mint

Aggressive mint competes for resources

⚠️ Strawberry

Brassicas and strawberries mutually inhibit growth

⚠️ Sunflower

Sunflowers are allelopathic to many plants; keep separate from mustard greens

⚠️ Tomato

Brassica allelopathy may stunt tomato growth

⚠️ Walnut

Susceptible to juglone toxicity from walnut trees

💊 Medicinal Uses

Medicinal Properties

Contains glucosinolates (sinigrin) , hydrolyzed to allyl isothiocyanate, the pungent compound with potent anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties
Exceptionally high in vitamin K (1 cup = 600%+ daily value), vitamin A, and vitamin C
Traditional external remedy: mustard plasters for chest congestion, muscle aches, and arthritis (counterirritant , stimulates blood flow to area)
Contains sulforaphane , being studied for cancer prevention, especially bladder and colon cancers
Rich in folate, calcium, and manganese; supports bone health and metabolic function

📝 Growing Notes

Mustard greens are among the fastest vegetables , baby greens ready in 21 days, full-size in 40, 60 days. Extremely cold-hardy (tolerates light frost) and bolt-resistant compared to other leafy greens. Varieties range from mild ('Mizuna', 'Tatsoi' , B. rapa) to hot/pungent ('Southern Giant Curled', 'Red Giant', 'Wasabina'). Heat intensifies pungency , spring/fall crops are milder. Flea beetles LOVE mustard greens , they can riddle leaves with holes within days; floating row covers are the best organic control. Mustard greens can also be grown as a biofumigant cover crop , their glucosinolates suppress soil-borne pathogens and nematodes when chopped and incorporated (green manure). Self-seeds prolifically if allowed to flower. Volunteer mustard plants are common in gardens that grew them previously.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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