Mustard greens are next on the list for my growing greens mini series . As a wonderful winter crop, they thrive in cool temps and are cold hardy, meaning they will survive a light frost. I planted these in November as baby plants and they shot right on up in less than four weeks. I’ve harvested three rounds from the greens so far and it is continuing to grow, making bi-weekly and weekly harvests possible,depending on the number of servings I’m cooking. While I planted my mustards in a raised bed, they can easily be planted in a container outside. If you’re thinking, “i’m not going out to buy a container,” you can always use household items like an empty storage bin, large food containers, etc. that you can poke holes into with a screwdriver or pair of scissors.
As we are in winter, pick up a few transplants from your local nursery. You can usually get groups of 6 for a couple of bucks. It is worth the investment to let sunshine and nature grow a plant that keeps on giving all season long. The greens should keep producing into the spring.
To get started:
- Identify a sunny spot in your backyard (or front yard bed) to plant your greens.
- Dig holes to fit two transplants each if smaller or plan them individually 6-8 inches apart.
- Cover with dirt and then add mulch to help the plant retain its moisture
- If using a container, prep it by poking holes in the bottom for drainage
- Fill it 2/3 of the way with a mixture of compost and soil. Add plants and the cover with dirt, then mulch.
You can harvest the leaves by clipping them off with kitchen scissors; I waited about 6 weeks until the leaves were large and mature, but you can also clip them when they are young (2-3 weeks) and about 3-4 inches long for a little added spice to your salads.
Only cut what you plan to eat. The plant will continue to grow new leaves. Check out my stages of growth below. Happy growing!
If it starts to warm and you start noticing holes in your greens, you can spray them with organic pest sprays. You can cut, chop, bag and freeze them. I’d recommend labeling the bag with its content and the date so that you stay on top of its freshness. They should be consumed within 12 months.
