Growing Mustard Greens From Saplings: Hacks For Winter Farming In The Home Garden

A food of the cool season, mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are produced for their spicy, delicious leaves. Young mustard greens provide a spicy addition to salads, while older leaves can be cooked and used in soups, stews, and stir-fries.

Though many gardeners may not be familiar with growing mustards, it's a quick and simple way to grow an aromatic green vegetable. You can increase the amount of nutritious and delectable food in your vegetable garden harvest by planting mustard greens. To find out how to grow mustard greens and how to plant them, continue reading.

When To Plant Greens With Mustard?

For a fall harvest, mustard greens are usually sown in the early spring and late summer. But you might be able to plant mustard greens all year round, depending on your climate. Even in 40-degree weather, the seeds will sprout in the soil.

In general, it's best to start seeding three to four weeks prior to your last frost. Plant a succession every two to three weeks to ensure a steady supply of delicate leaves.

How To Plant Mustard Greens?

• After plants emerge, mulch the area surrounding them and work in compost or aged manure.
• Plant the seeds directly in the prepared ground, allowing ¼ inch of depth, and lightly cover.
• You can plant baby mustard greens in rows spaced four to six inches apart, with two seeds per inch.
• Leave 12 to 18 inches between rows and 6 to 12 inches between plants, depending on the variety, if you intend to let your mustard greens grow larger.

Planting

• Like other greens, they taste wonderful and look great in your garden, giving the impression that you have a green thumb.
• Mustard greens prefer a rich organic soil that is fertile. This is where you can add a bit more aged manure or compost. Those greens love all that nitrogen released during the breakdown of the organic stuff.
• Mulch to keep soil moisture levels uniform. Use your finger to feel for two to three inches of wetness in the soil. It should be cool and somewhat moist in the soil. You will need to water if it's hot and dusty outside.
• Verify your rain gauge and add more water as needed. Mustard greens prefer one inch of water a week or more in hot and arid conditions. Compared to daily shallow irrigation, two deep waterings are preferable.
• Water them first thing in the morning to help prevent fungal infections. In the heat of the day, leaves will dry more quickly, reducing the amount of time they remain moist and conducive to spore growth.

Crop Rotation

Insects that hibernate in the soil are the primary vectors of many Brassica illnesses. Furthermore, disease-causing bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens can persist in the soil long after the afflicted plants have died. Select a fresh location for your mustard each season, preferably somewhere you haven't planted brassicas in the previous year or two, to provide the healthiest possible crop.

Read More: How To Grow Chilli Pepper Plants At Home

Weeding

Weeds have the potential to harbour insect pests, viruses, and germs that could infect your leafy green plants, whether they are growing adjacent to each other or sharing the soil surface.

Eliminate Sick Plants

While it's unfortunate when pests or diseases destroy your crop, try not to let your grief consume you for too long. Rather, as soon as you become aware of a problem, take immediate steps to cure or remove the injured plants.

This keeps the pests and diseases from being established in the soil and harming the next crops, as well as preventing them from spreading to other mustard greens or other areas of the garden.

Recall that certain insect pests can survive and proliferate in plant residue, so keep that in mind if they are the ones causing the damage.

Harvesting

After planting, mustard greens can be collected as baby greens in three to four weeks or left to grow larger. Naturally, this yields both sizes if you seed them closely and then consume the ones that require thinning.

Greens that are picked before they become heated will be softer and more delicate. For fully grown plants, grasp the leaf base and twist it off. Because mustard greens are clipped and regrown, they will keep producing new leaves and have a long harvest season. Shear off baby mustard greens using scissors.