Da Ping Pu Mustard is a wide-leafed bunching mustard from Asia that has only recently become available to American gardeners, bringing authentic Asian vegetable growing into home gardens. This open-pollinated heirloom reaches 18, 24 inches tall and produces a distinctive "big head" form that makes it visually striking in the garden. Ready to harvest in 60, 69 days, it thrives in hardiness zones 2, 10 and prefers the cooler temperatures of fall, though it germinates best when given some warmth early on. The combination of its Asian heritage, reliable production, and adaptability across most of North America makes it a fascinating addition to mustard-focused gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
24in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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This wide-leafed bunching mustard arrived in the United States from extensive Asian cultivation, where it's long been a staple. It earned the nickname "big head" mustard for its characteristic growth form, making it instantly recognizable once it reaches maturity. Fall crops produce the most tender, flavorful leaves, and the plant's frost tolerance means you can stretch your harvest well into late autumn.
Da Ping Pu Mustard is used as a leafy green vegetable, harvested and prepared much like other bunching mustards. The wide leaves can be blanched, stir-fried, braised, or added to soups, where they bring a characteristic mustard flavor and tender texture to the dish.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4, 6 weeks before your desired transplant date, keeping soil temperature between 50, 75°F for reliable germination. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors when they have 2, 3 true leaves and soil has warmed to at least 50°F. Space transplants 6 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. Planting in midsummer for a fall harvest takes advantage of this variety's preference for cooler growing conditions.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in midsummer (4, 6 weeks before your first expected fall frost) for optimal results. Plant into prepared soil with good drainage and consistent moisture.
Harvest Da Ping Pu Mustard 60, 69 days after sowing or transplanting, beginning when the distinctive "big head" form becomes visible and the outer leaves have reached usable size. You can harvest individual outer leaves starting when plants are younger, or cut entire heads once they reach maturity. For the most tender leaves with the best flavor, harvest in the cool temperatures of fall and early winter.
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“Da Ping Pu Mustard comes from a long tradition of mustard cultivation across Asia, where it has been grown extensively for generations. As a non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom, it represents a preserved variety that has been maintained through seed saving and traditional growing practices. Its arrival in the United States is relatively recent, reflecting the growing interest in heritage Asian vegetables and the expanding availability of authentic seed varieties in Western seed catalogs.”