Vegetable
Mustard
This diverse mustard collection brings together bold Asian greens that thrive across zones 2-10, offering everything from mild, tender leaves to fiery, peppery bites. Ready to harvest in just 40-49 days, these fast-growing plants reach 18-24 inches tall and pack incredible nutritional punch into compact 6-inch spacing. With varieties ranging from the delicate fringed leaves of Mizuna to the striking purple-tinged Osaka Purple, this mustard mix transforms any garden bed into a gourmet salad bowl that keeps producing through multiple cuttings.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soils
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
Spacing
6
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What makes this mustard collection irresistible is its incredible diversity packed into one fast-growing crop. The Mizuna offers dozens of pencil-thin white stalks with deeply cut fringed leaves that regrow after cutting, while Osaka Purple delivers tender green leaves beautifully tinged with purple-red that intensify in flavor as they mature. Tokyo Bekana contributes bright, curly, ruffled leaves on narrow white petioles, and the spoon-shaped Tatsoi varieties provide thick, compact rosettes loaded with vitamins. Whether harvested as tender baby leaves in just 20-21 days or allowed to reach full maturity, these mustards excel both raw in salads and cooked in stir-fries.
Common Uses
These versatile mustards excel in both raw and cooked applications, with young tender leaves perfect for fresh salad mixes and mature leaves ideal for stir-fries, soups, and braised dishes. The mild varieties like Tendergreen and Tokyo Bekana work beautifully in delicate salads, while the more pungent mature Osaka Purple adds sharp, complex flavor to cooked dishes. Many varieties shine as microgreens, offering intense peppery flavor for garnishing everything from sandwiches to gourmet entrees. The thick, vitamin-rich leaves of Tatsoi varieties hold up particularly well to quick cooking methods, and the edible flowering stems provide an additional harvest when plants bolt.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the anticipated transplant date. Seeds germinate best with consistent moisture and moderate temperatures.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings after 2-3 true leaves have formed, spacing loose-leaf types 6 inches apart for optimal growth.
Direct Sow
Direct seed into prepared beds, with the preferred method being to sow into a 4x4 foot area every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Seeds can be sown monthly from February through October in most climates.
Harvesting
Harvest baby leaves in just 20-21 days for the mildest flavor, or allow plants to reach full maturity at 40-49 days for more complex taste. Use the cut-and-come-again method by cutting about 2 inches above ground to encourage regrowth, or pick individual leaves as needed for extended harvest. Young, tender leaves provide the best eating quality, while older leaves become more bitter and pungent. When plants bolt, harvest the edible flowering stems as a bonus crop. The best salads come from young tender leaves harvested in the morning when plants are fully hydrated.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa var. perviridis
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)
History & Origin
“This collection represents centuries of Asian breeding tradition, with varieties like Osaka Purple originating in Japan and Mizuna (Brassica japonica) being cultivated for generations as both a cutting green and flowering vegetable. The Tatsoi varieties, developed from Brassica rapa, have been prized in Chinese cuisine for their unique spoon-shaped leaves and exceptional cold tolerance. These heirloom, open-pollinated varieties have been carefully preserved by seed savers who recognized their superior flavor and remarkable adaptability, allowing modern gardeners to grow the same productive strains that have sustained families across Asia for generations.”