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Ruby Streak Mustard is a vibrant heirloom that transforms a simple salad into something visually striking. This open-pollinated Brassica juncea grows 18 to 24 inches tall and reaches full maturity in 40 to 49 days, though you can begin harvesting tender baby leaves as early as 25 days. The stems are bright green and support delicate, deeply lobed leaves that shift between dark green and deep maroon tones, creating a natural color gradient on the plate. Hardy from zones 2 to 10, it thrives in full sun and delivers both visual drama and a delicate, spicy bite to salads and cooked greens alike.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
24in H x ?in W
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High
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Ruby Streak stands out among baby leaf mustards for its stunning two-tone foliage and remarkable harvest flexibility. You can pick tender micros and baby leaves in less than a month, or wait for full-size plants that reach nearly two feet tall, and the variety stays delicious at every stage. The combination of dark green and maroon coloring makes it as much a kitchen garden showpiece as it is a flavor powerhouse, while the heirloom pedigree and open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds for next season.
Ruby Streak shines in salad mixes, where its maroon and green leaves add visual depth and a delicate, warming spice. It can be harvested at the baby leaf stage for tender, mild greens perfect for fresh applications, or allowed to mature for larger leaves that hold their shape better in wilted preparations and cooked dishes. The thin stems and lacy foliage make it a natural choice for microgreens production, where it reaches harvestable size in under a month.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow Ruby Streak Mustard seeds into prepared garden beds in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in mid- to late summer for a fall crop. Press seeds lightly into moist soil and keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination occurs.
Ruby Streak offers remarkable flexibility in harvest timing. Begin picking individual outer leaves or tender baby greens as early as 25 days after planting for the most delicate, mildest flavor, or wait until 40 to 49 days for full-size plants with more robust foliage. For continuous harvests, pinch off outer leaves from the base of the plant, working your way up, which encourages bushier growth and prolongs productivity. The plant remains harvestable from micro-size through full maturity, so you can adjust your picking strategy based on your kitchen needs. Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and full of moisture for the best texture.
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“Ruby Streak Mustard is a non-GMO heirloom variety passed down through generations of gardeners who valued both its ornamental appeal and culinary punch. As an open-pollinated cultivar, it has been preserved by seed savers and home gardeners who recognized its unique ability to deliver color and spice in a single plant, allowing the variety to remain true to type year after year for those who wish to harvest and replant their own seeds.”