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 50°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 14 - 24 inches 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.
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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.
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17 Apr 22, Barb (USA - Zone 11a climate)
Can mustard greens be grown in zone 11 and when should seeds be planted?
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21 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
By the planting guide here no.
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22 Feb 22, Manjeet (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it okay to use the Mustard seeds used cooking for planting, red or yellow?
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24 Feb 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try it and see what happens.
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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.
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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.
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30 Mar 20, LK (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought mine from the Asian grocer Kim Wang in Chinatown. Hope this helps!
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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.
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