Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Annual
- Days to Maturity
- 35-180 (Fall/Winter)
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Mustards actually prefer cool weather and are often grown as a winter vegetable or cover crop. They are quite frost tolerant, but may winterkill at temperatures below 26˚ F.
- Crops
- Fall
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool
The ideal spot for mustards depends on the weather. If it's cool they should be planted on a sunny site.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 45°F - 75°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 45°F
Mustard germinates and grows quickly (if the soil is at least 45 degrees) so is usually direct sown.
- Start Indoors
- No
- Start Outdoors
- Yes
- Light
- Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool)
Cover crops need full sun when growing in winter, as days are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky. If grown in summer many will tolerate light shade (though they grow best in full sun).
- Water
- Low
Most of these crops are not particularly drought tolerant and will need regular watering in dry climates (especially when germinating and getting established). However they are mostly grown during the winter when the soil is fairly moist, so don't usually require much irrigation.
- Feeder
- Light
You do not need to fertilize cover crop in established gardens, as there will be plenty of nutrients in the garden to meet their needs. Since you will be incorporating them back in to the soil, growing them doesn't remove any nutrients from the soil.
The leguminous cover crops also fix nitrogen and eventually add it to the soil.
- Suitability
- Tolerates light frost, Partial shade
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- No
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- Yes
- Color
- Fruit Size
- - "
- Plant Height
- 36.0 - 48.0"
- Plant Diameter
- - "
- Hardiness Zone
- -
- Disease Resistance
- Taste Profile
Mustard leaves are tender, mild and tasty when growing in cool weather.
- Rotation Group
- Soil Builders and Cleaners: Legumes + Corn + Potatoes