Mustard is very popular, especially in Germany. But not only because of its pungent seeds but also because of the tasty leaves, beautiful yellow flowers and its function as a green manure, it is increasingly being planted in allotments. Learn how to grow mustard in your own garden below.

Mustard can be grown all year round

Mustard is not just mustard

There are roughly three types of mustard: brown, white (or yellow) and black mustard. All three belong to the cruciferous vegetable family and can be used to make mustard. Only the taste varies: black mustard, also known as oriental mustard, tastes the hottest; Hot mustard is made from brown and black mustard seeds. White mustard is rather mild and is processed into medium-hot, aromatic mustard. White mustard does not grow as tall as black or brown mustard and is therefore better suited to growing on the balcony or windowsill.

The right location for the mustard

Mustard is one of the most undemanding crops that you can plant in your garden or on the balcony. He is not picky about either location or care. The only important thing is that you observe the crop rotation: Mustard belongs to the cruciferous family and these may only be planted in the same place every four years. So do not sow your mustard in a location where cabbages, radishes, cress, rape or radish have been growing for the past three years. Of course, the mustard also needs light, but it doesn’t really matter whether it is in partial shade or in the sun.
Mustard also thrives in a bucket on the windowsill or on the balcony.

Sow mustard

Mustard can be sown all year round. However, if you want to harvest the seeds, you should plant your mustard seeds in early May. It is best to grow it on the windowsill and plant the plants outdoors after the ice saints.

cultivate mustard

As I said, mustard needs almost no attention. Of course, you shouldn't let it dry out: provide it with water regularly and your mustard will thrive wonderfully. He doesn't need fertilizer.

Harvest mustard

Not only the seeds can be harvested, the aromatic leaves can also be eaten. You can harvest these permanently by always removing only the outer leaves and leaving the plant undamaged. The mustard seeds are harvested after flowering. From June, the beautiful, bright yellow flowers usually appear. Now you should stop harvesting the leaves, which are gradually dying anyway. You can find out here how to harvest the seeds correctly and read here how to process them into green manure.

The mustard in the profile

Here are the most important things at a glance:

  • Genus: Brassica
  • Family: cruciferous family
  • Flower color: yellow
  • Use: as a medicinal and useful plant
  • Lifespan: Annual
  • Sowing: in May (for seed harvest), all year round (green manure, leaf harvest)
  • Location: light, humid
  • Harvest time: October (seeds), all year round (leaves)

Category:

Vegetable garden