Curly Mustard
Green Wave Mustard is a frilly-leaved powerhouse that brings serious heat to the garden and kitchen. This fast-growing Brassica juncea cultivar reaches 24 inches tall and can be harvested in just 40 days, making it perfect for succession planting. Johnny's Selected Seeds calls it their spiciest green mustard, and Hudson Valley Seed confirms it's a must for those with pungent-loving palates. Whether grown as tender baby leaves for salad kick or allowed to mature for fuller, thicker braising greens, Green Wave thrives in full sun to partial shade and actually improves after the first fall frost.
Full Sun
High
?-?
24in H x 12in W
Annual, Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Green Wave apart is its remarkable versatility and incredible spiciness that intensifies as the leaves mature. The deeply frilled foliage provides both visual interest and maximum surface area for that signature mustard punch. This variety excels in cool weather conditions, becoming heartier and more flavorful after frost touches the leaves. The quick 40-day harvest cycle allows for multiple plantings throughout the season, while its cut-and-come-again nature means you can harvest outer leaves continuously without killing the plant.
Green Wave shines in braising green mixes where its pungent bite stands up beautifully to long cooking with garlic, chili flakes, and sesame oil. Young tender leaves add serious kick to fresh salads, while mature leaves become the star of dishes finished with plenty of salt and freshly cracked pepper. This mustard is a standard in Southern-style cooking but equally at home in Asian stir-fries where its heat complements bold seasonings.
Start seeds under protection 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, or 3-5 weeks before anticipated transplant timing for a more conservative approach.
Transplant after the danger of hard frost has passed, using 1/4 cup of complete fertilizer around each plant at transplanting.
Direct sow at 2-4 week intervals for continuous harvest, making a furrow 6 inches deep with 1/2 cup of complete fertilizer per 10 row feet before backfilling and planting. For fall crops, direct sow in July or August for the best yields.
Begin harvesting when leaves reach 3-6 inches in length, typically around 40 days from sowing though some sources suggest harvesting as early as 21 days for baby leaves. Use a sharp knife to cut above the basal plate for cut-and-come-again harvests, taking about one-third of the outer leaves at a time. For continuous production, harvest again when plants reach desired size in 5-14 days depending on growing conditions. Harvest before the plant flowers for the most tender, mildest flavor.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.