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Mustard Greens Growing Guide🥬: Spacing, Planting, and Harvesting Tips

Mustard Greens Growing Guide🥬: Spacing, Planting, and Harvesting Tips

Introduction

Mustard greens are one of the fastest-growing leafy greens — spicy, nutrient-dense, and perfect for SIPs and wicking beds. Whether you’re growing them in a LifeSpace Garden or outfitting your own raised bed with GardenWells inserts, bottom-up hydration ensures tender leaves and continuous yields.

When to Plant Mustard Greens

  • Spring: Direct-seed in March or April as soon as soil is workable. See the March Gardening Guide for early tips.

  • Summer: Plant heat-tolerant varieties in June for succession crops.

  • Fall: Sow a final round in August for sweet, tender autumn greens; visit the September Gardening Guide.

Square Foot Gardening Spacing

  • Spacing: 4–6 plants per sq ft (~6” apart)

  • Depth: Sow seeds ¼–½” deep

  • Companions: Pair well with radishes, carrots, and peas.

How to Plant Mustard Greens

Direct Seeding (Preferred)

  • Sow 2–3 seeds per hole, thin to the healthiest seedling after germination.

  • Keep topsoil evenly moist until sprouts appear (~5–7 days).

Transplanting (Optional)

  • Start indoors 4 weeks before last frost for an early jumpstart.

  • Harden off seedlings for 5–7 days before moving to SIPs or wicking beds.

Watering Your Mustard Greens

  • Use the WaterStem to monitor reservoir levels: when the Hummingbird rises, it’s full; when it drops, refill.

  • Before establishment: Top-water daily until seedlings root into SIP zones.

  • After establishment: Refill reservoirs every 1–2 weeks depending on temperature.

  • Mulch around plants to stabilize moisture and reduce weeds.

Harvesting Mustard Greens

  • Baby Greens: Ready 20–25 days after planting.

  • Full-Size Leaves: Harvest in 40–50 days.

  • Use a “cut-and-come-again” method: snip outer leaves, allowing the plant center to continue producing.

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue Likely Cause Solution
Bolting Heat stress Use bolt-resistant types, succession sow for steady harvests
Flea Beetles Early pest activity Cover with mesh or interplant nasturtiums
Yellow Leaves Overwatering Use SIPs or wicking beds for consistent hydration

Companion Plants for Mustard Greens

Best companions (with cross-links):

  • Radishes → Mature quickly, leaving room for mustard greens to spread.

  • Carrots → Root crops pair well with mustard’s shallow growth.

  • Peas → Boost nitrogen levels for greener leaves.

  • Lettuce → Shares similar watering needs and thrives in partial shade under mustard greens.

Avoid planting with:

  • Other brassicas like broccoli and cabbage due to shared pests and nutrient competition.

Product Tips

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