Do you want to grow an easy-care, aromatic crop with beautiful flowers in the garden or on your balcony? Then you have made the right choice with mustard! Find out below how to grow mustard yourself.

The mustard leaves can be used in salads

What does the mustard need to be happy?

Mustard really only needs two things to germinate and grow: light and water. So as long as you water it regularly and it gets some sunlight, your mustard grow is sure to be a success. Since mustard belongs to the cruciferous family, the crop rotation must be observed: cruciferous vegetables may only be planted in one location every four years. In addition to mustard, this also includes cabbage, radish, radish, cress and others.

When is mustard planted?

Mustard can be sown all year round. If you want to harvest the seeds, you should sow them in May. If no more frost is to be expected, you can sow it directly outdoors, otherwise pre-cultivation on the windowsill is advisable.

The most important thing about growing mustard

  • Location: moist and bright, note crop rotation!
  • Sowing date: all year round, for seed harvest in May
  • Sowing depth: 2cm
  • Planting distance: 20 to 25cm
  • Care: pour, do not fertilize
  • Harvest time: Leaves all year round, seeds in early autumn
  • Use: Leaves for salads and warm dishes, seeds for seasoning dishes and for making mustard, entire plant for green manure

Harvest mustard seeds

Mustard seeds can usually be harvested in October when the pods are yellow and dry. Knock out the seeds by placing the pods in a sack and banging it on the ground or against a wall. You can use the mustard seeds obtained in this way as a spice, for the production of mustard or grow other mustard plants from them. Since a mustard plant produces up to 25,000 mustard seeds, you can do a number of things with it.

Make your own mustard

If you've already taken the trouble to grow your own mustard, it's just a tiny step away from making your own mustard. Plus, making mustard is just as easy as growing mustard. You only need:

  • mustard seeds
  • water
  • wine vinegar
  • salt
  • sugar
  • a mustard mill or something similar

Grind the mustard in a mustard grinder. If you don't have one, you can also pound it in a mortar, but this will result in a less fine mustard. Mix the mustard with salt and sugar. Heat the water with the wine vinegar and let the solution cool down. Then mix everything together. Your own mustard is ready.

Category:

Vegetable garden