Mustard Growing Guide
Sinapis alba
Crop Rotation Group
Brassicas (Cabbage family) ●
Soil
Fertile, well drained soil.
Position
Full sun to partial afternoon shade.
Frost tolerant
Mustard is cool-season annual
Feeding
None generally needed.
Companions
Mustard does an excellent job of suppressing weeds when grown in a solid mass.
Spacing
Single Plants: 15cm (5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 15cm (5") with 15cm (5") row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
In areas with cooler summers, mustard can be sown almost all year round, except for the coldest mid winter months. In areas with hot summers, avoid sowing in the hot mid summer months. Sow in late summer to use mustard as a short-term autumn green manure. Broadcast seed into cultivated soil so that the seeds are about 5 cm apart and 1 cm deep. Thin to 15 cm apart in all directions.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Use young leaves in salads and older ones for cooking. Mustard residue suppresses soil-borne nematodes, so it is an excellent green manure to grow before potatoes.
Harvesting
Chop down the green foliage with a hoe and turn it under before it starts to flower.
Troubleshooting
Irrigation is often needed to get a good stand if autumn is dry.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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Pests which Affect Mustard