Mustard Greens Seeds - Cherokee Blue, ORGANIC

Minimum Seeds per Packet: 400

Packet Weight: 2g

Planting Season: Spring, Summer, or Fall

Sowing Method: Direct Seed or Transplant

Seed Depth: 1/4"

Direct Seed Spacing: 1"

Soil Temperature: 60-85 ℉

Days to Sprout: 3-12

Mature Spacing: 12-18"

Sun Requirement: Full Sun or Partial Shade

Frost Tolerance: Moderately Tolerant

Days to Harvest: 50

When to Seed Mustard Greens

For a spring or early summer harvest, start your mustard greens indoors four to six weeks before your last frost date, transplanting the seedlings about three weeks before your last frost date. For a fall harvest, sow your seeds in late July or early August. Mustard greens can also be direct seeded into the garden. Certain frost protectant measures can be used to extend your growing season by several weeks for your fall harvest.  

Where to Plant Mustard Greens

Mustard greens will prefer a spot with full sun but can tolerate some shade - especially for spring crops. It will need well-draining, rich soil with a pH between five and seven. To increase the fertility of your soil ahead of planting, mix in two to four inches of compost and add additional high-nitrogen fertilizer if necessary.

Growing Mustard Greens

When transplanting, ideally your seedlings will be three inches in height. Plant your seedlings out 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. You can also direct seed your mustard greens. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep and one inch apart, thinning to their mature planting distance. Applying mulch after transplanting (or germination if direct seeding) can help keep weeds in check and hold in moisture. Ensure your seedlings get at least one to two inches of water per week. 

Harvesting Mustard Greens

Mustard greens can be harvested at any size, but established stalks will offer a continuous harvest through the cooler season. The tastiest leaves will be three to six inches long. The plants should be at least eight inches tall before you start harvesting from them. Using sharp shears, clip off the lower leaves. Harvest no more than ⅓ of the plant at a time.

Mustard Greens, Brassica spp.
Pollination, insect; Life Cycle, annual; Isolation Distance, ½ mile

Although mustard will not cross with other Brassicae, there are many wild mustards in both the Brassica juncea (the greens we eat) and Brassica nigra (the seeds we eat) that grow all over North America that your seed plants will cross with. Isolation by space can be risky for this reason, a safer bet would be to bag your flowers or cage your plants. The seed pods mature from the bottom upwards and shatter easily, so it's best to cut the whole plant just before maturity and hand to dry in a cool, dry place. When whole plant is crispy-dry, thresh the seeds and winnow to clean.