Growing Mustard greens, also gai choy

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S S S S S S S S S S S
T T T T T T T T T T T T
P P P P P P P P P P P P

(Best months for growing Mustard greens in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 35 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 5-8 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, camomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry
  • Leaf mustard
  • Red Japanese mustard

Green leafy plant, popular for Asian cooking.

Grow fast with plenty of water and regular feeds of liquid manure to avoid bitterness. Pick young.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Mustard greens

Use young leaves in salad for a 'spicy kick'. Add to stir fry.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
04 Jun 23, Carole liddell (Australia - temperate climate)
They don’t sell mustard greens in any supermarket or grocery store near me - what is the next best thing to it.
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jun 23, deidre (Australia - arid climate)
Kale or chard would work, as would bok choi / pak choy. Mustard greens are very fast and very easy to grow in pots or the ground, you only harvest what you need, a few leaves at a time.
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Apr 22, Barb (USA - Zone 11a climate)
Can mustard greens be grown in zone 11 and when should seeds be planted?
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
By the planting guide here no.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Feb 22, Manjeet (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it okay to use the Mustard seeds used cooking for planting, red or yellow?
Reply or Post a new comment
24 Feb 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try it and see what happens.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Feb 20, Marlee Williams (Australia - temperate climate)
Please advise where in Adelaide SA I can buy leaf mustard (aka mustard greens) seeds. Every time I think I’ve found somewhere the seeds turnout to be the variety that you cook with not the ones I want to plant in my garden. Thank you to anyone that can help me.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Nov 21, Eadie (Australia - temperate climate)
Buy on line from Diggers Club ~ BTW proper name 'Brassica Juncea' may help when searching. https://www.diggers.com.au/shop/vegetables/asian-greens/mustard-red-giant/s148/ Self seed readily, deep rooting, ornamental, bees love them.I mix the leaves in when cooking silverbeet, spinach, any of the 'wild greens' mixes I pick. Fab on going addition to the garden.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Mar 20, LK (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought mine from the Asian grocer Kim Wang in Chinatown. Hope this helps!
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Mar 20, Peter Turner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try your local Chinese/ Asian food shops. I buy all of my Asian Greens seeds from there and they are super cheap.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 1 - 10 of 44 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Mustard greens

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.