Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Mustard greens are fast-maturing cool-season crops that bolt and turn unpleasantly bitter in heat — grow them as a spring or fall crop. Direct sow seeds 6mm deep, 5cm apart, thinning to 20–30cm spacing once seedlings emerge, in rows 40cm apart. They tolerate a wide pH range (5.5–7.5) but perform best at 6.0–7.0 in fertile, moisture-retentive soil enriched with compost. Mustard greens are rapid growers and light feeders — a single application of balanced fertilizer or fish emulsion at planting is usually sufficient, though plants cut repeatedly for baby leaves benefit from a nitrogen top-dress after each harvest. Water consistently at 2.5–4cm per week. Succession-plant every 2–3 weeks from early spring through mid-April, then again in late summer from August. Slight frosts actually sweeten the flavor.