Mustard Greens
Brassica juncea
Mustard greens deliver punchy, peppery leaves all year round given a little protection. Varieties like 'Red Giant', 'Green in Snow' and 'Golden Streaks' add colour and bite to winter salads and stir-fries. Sow little and often from March to September, direct or in modules — they germinate fast and can be cut as baby leaves in just three weeks. The best crops come from late summer sowings (August–September) which mature in cool weather and stand right through winter under a cloche or in a polytunnel. Hot summer sowings bolt quickly and turn unbearably hot, so favour spring and autumn. A brilliant catch crop between slower brassicas, and a useful green manure when dug in young.
Plan where to grow Mustard Greens using our vegetable garden planner.
When to Sow Mustard Greens
Sow mustard greens in March, April, May, June, July, August, September.
Time to Harvest Mustard Greens
Expect to harvest approximately 2 months after sowing, usually from April to November.
Companion Plants for Mustard Greens
- Butterhead Lettuce
Both are quick salad leaves that grow happily in the same bed for mixed pickings.
- Radish
Quick radishes and mustard greens suit the same salad bed, though both are brassicas prone to flea beetle, so fine mesh helps.
- Spinach
Spinach and mustard greens are both quick leafy crops for cool, moist conditions in spring and autumn.
- Lamb's Lettuce
Lamb's lettuce and mustard greens together give a hardy mixed salad bed for autumn and winter.
Expected Yield
Cut-and-come-again over 6–8 weeks per sowing.
Common Problems with Mustard Greens
Bolting in summer
Hot dry weather and long days trigger flowering. Stick to early spring and late summer sowings, and provide afternoon shade in June and July.
Flea beetle holes in leaves
Tiny pinholes are flea beetle damage. Cover with fine mesh from sowing, water well to keep plants growing fast, and sow after the worst of the spring outbreak (late July onwards).
Leaves taste unbearably hot
Heat intensifies the mustard flavour. Pick young (10–15cm), water generously and grow in cooler shoulder seasons for milder leaves.
Mustard Greens: common questions
When should I sow mustard greens in the UK?
Sow mustard greens from March to September. Sow under cover for an early start, or directly outside once the soil has warmed.
How far apart should I plant mustard greens?
Space mustard greens about 20cm apart. It grows to around 40cm tall. Sow seeds 1cm deep.
How long does mustard greens take to germinate?
Mustard Greens seeds usually germinate in 4–7 days, depending on temperature.
When is mustard greens ready to harvest?
In the UK, mustard greens is usually harvested from April to November. It's ready about 2 months after sowing.
Does mustard greens come back every year?
No. Mustard Greens is an annual: it grows, flowers and dies in one year, so sow it again each year. Some annuals self-seed if a few flowers are left to set seed.
What grows well with mustard greens?
Good companions for mustard greens include Butterhead Lettuce, Radish, Spinach and Lamb's Lettuce. See the companion plants section above for why each one helps.
Is mustard greens frost hardy?
Yes. Mustard Greens is hardy and survives a normal UK winter outdoors.
Is mustard greens a brassica?
Yes. Mustard Greens belongs in the brassicas group for crop rotation. Grow it in a different bed each year, alongside other brassicas, so pests and diseases don't build up in the soil.
Plan your mustard greens in the allotment planner
Drag and drop plants onto your plot and get personalised sowing reminders.
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