Asian Mustard offers a sweet-smelling , peppery taste that ’s a real kick in the rima oris .
It makes an splendid substitute for spinach and can be used as a culinary factor in dish you already cook .
Did you know that if you already deplete spring mix salads , you probably already tried it before .
But when you grow it yourself , you may get an unlimited supply . And organic one at that .
So allow ’s plunk in and learn how to grow and wish for Mizuna plants in your garden .
( cover charge picture byisaac’licious , Flickr , CC BY - SA 2.0 . )
Last updated : 8/5/21 .
Guide Contents
Quick care guide: Asian Mustard Greens (Mizuna)
What’s Mizuna?
Mizuna is a soft , raw serrated foliage veggie that ’s extremely versatile and can be used for a miscellany of dishes .
Scientifically know as Brassica rapa ( var . japonica ) , Asian mustard greens is grown for its mild feel and lenient texture . It ’s ordinarily used in culinary recipe such as salads , soup , stir - fries , seafood , or as a substitute for other green broadleaf plants .
The feel is easy on the roof of the mouth and the grain is super soft . Mizuna also can be used as a landscaping plant because of its gorgeous unripened coloration and easy maintenance .
Because it ’s tender , it protest plant run off so you have more time to harvest without it move sulphurous . This is plus compared to other veg that bolt like sick once you miss the harvest home window likeraddichio .
It ’s also know as Nipponese mustard green , Asiatic greens , water system William Green , or kyona .
Mizuno has jagged leave-taking , also known as serrated edges . The leaves are feather - alike and are grouped with turnips in the same genus . However , it ’s not a bug .
You ’ll find that whatever intent you plan to use it for , it ’ll be well-to-do even for the founding father . Mizuna is also very soft to regrow .
So if you stag for it as part of your subroutine , redeem yourself some cash on your next grocery haul . Grow it yourself organically .
What does it taste like?
Mizuna has a mellisonant relish that ’s well-fixed on the taste buds . The savor can be bitter if glean too late , but generally , it should be very sweet and easy to eat .
The leaves have a slight spiciness to them followed by a sweet aftertaste . It ’s tender and you ’ll find it in spring salad mixes .
Is it easy to grow?
Yes , Asiatic Indian mustard is well-heeled to grow . Any beginner with some clip on their mitt can grow it passively . Once you get it start , it only requires minimal care to prosper .
Plus , if you decide you do n’t like the taste of it , after all , let it get as a landscape gardening works to fill the gaps in your garden that ask some coverage . It stool an excellent increase to your organometal garden , edibles , or even grown in containers .
Mizuna grows and is ready for harvest early in the spring , with only a short time to harvest . So you may enjoy it much earlier than other veg .
Types of Mizuna
Some culvers you may desire to stop out :
Propagating Mizuna
Mizuna is easy to propagate and there are multiple ways to do it . The more accessible way is to just buy a mail boat of seed from your local glasshouse and follow the directions on the back of the package .
you’re able to often snag more than you ’ll ever need in one just packet for a few dollars , so the price is no roadblock to enjoying this veggie .
Growing from seed
Check out the package for precise directions on how to rise your mizuna . Depending on the line you bought , directions will depart .
Typically , you ’ll desire to sow in them when the temperature is cool . Asian mustard does n’t do well in fire up effort and will blacken if it ’s too hot . Keeping it in the cool chain of mountains will yield those sweet leaves you ’re looking for .
observe : you may start sow in indoors using a source starter if you bid . But lineal sowing into your garden will save you the trouble of bear to transplant your plants later .
Plus , you ’ll in all probability be sow a net ton of source , so it ’s not worth the travail of moving them one by one to their permanent location in your G .
So that ’s why I ’ll stick with direct sowing . If you ’re develop Mizuna outside of the correct hardiness geographical zone , then you may require to depart them indoors . It ’s nuanced .
Sow seed about 1 month before the last freeze appointment . This will give them great deal of time to percolate up and withstand the common cold . If you wait it to be extremely cold or you ’re get in a colder region , start by showing them inside your theater .
Find a location in your garden with full sun if you ’re in a low-spirited hardiness zona . fond zona will want to imbed in partial shade so it does n’t fire and dry up .
Sow seeds 6 - 8 inch apart . Remember that these plant life are tiny and produce little return per plant . You ’ll require to rise them in tumid numbers to produce enough for you and yours .
For one someone , at least 3 plant should be enough to maintain a few salads here and there throughout the time of year . If you exhaust more or have more people to feed , then plant more .
plant life 2 - 3 seeds about .25 ” deep in each golf hole . For maximal space - saving , plant in rows . If you have a flyspeck garden , this approach works well .
But not as right as vertical planting , which seems to be the new trend for tiny gardening .
apply constitutive , nutrient - dense soil .
For best results , maturate in a garden or plot commit to just edibles . fend off planting with other brassica plants to deflect pests . In other words , do n’t plant with bok choy , radish , kale , broccoli , etc .
These will contend for nutrient and transmit pests if they have any . show the surgical incision on companion planting to know what to plant with your mizuna .
Amend your dirt with compost to improve drain . The grime needs to be well - draining , as you ’ve probably take heed many time before .
If you ’re arise on a raised plant layer , you may add some rocks or guts at the base to help prevent clunking . The soil should be deep , dense , and soft .
Expect sprouting within 2 weeks . The semen will germinate quickly with minimum care . Water generously the first time around , then reduce watering to just keep them moist . If growing indoors , apply a humidity dome to help them germinate .
For a large harvest yield , plant life in succession . For model , constitute the first batch , then plant the next one 1 week afterward .
Continue and you ’ll have yielded for weeks while shorten risk from weather damage . If you get a yield that produce into winter , you may harvest scented tender parting .
Continue watering and checking in daily . The craw will originate chop-chop into the summer . Keep the temperature below 70F for safe results .
If you expect a heatwave , use an umbrella or brace with improbable plants to provide spook so they do n’t sear . If it ’s too spicy , mizuna tends to resist bolting for a curt point . But you need to harvest it if you anticipate the heat to carry on . They can also address some frost .
For those that expect summer to near speedily with blazing temps , consider growing all of your batches in the shade . This way of life , you may extend your crop season .
Otherwise , full sun suits regions with stable temps all twelvemonth round .
If you require to grow mizuna in containers , the same physical process applies to them .
But note that when you plant in a pot , the water will evaporate quickly , so you need to water it more often . to boot , the soil must drain well and there should be plenty of drain holes on the foundation .
Do n’t overwater and do n’t over - fertilize as this can lead to buildup in an hold in environment . The nice matter about works is that you’re able to move them around as needed . If it ’s too hot , dusty , rain , coke , whatever .
you’re able to move it around as needed .
How to grow Mizuna mustard greens
Here are some general guidepost for mizuna care .
Depending on the cultivar you ’re grow , your needs may differ . However , these should turn as an overarching theme for your works to thrive .
Hardiness zone
Mizuna grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 - 10 . If you ’re growing out of these zones , you’re able to grow it indoors or within a nursery to verify the weather .
Soil
The territory should be full-bodied , fertile , and organic if need . It farm best in compost - rich soil that ’s out of lineal sun for hot zone .
pick out a well - draining filth that is balance for vegetable planting . It does n’t necessitate to be anything fancy but should have some nutrients loaded into it .
Brownie points for wet - keep on soil . Mulch can help suppress skunk .
pH
Asian leaf mustard does well in acidic soil with a pH cooking stove between 6 - 7 .
you could amend your stain if needed to slenderly get down the mediocre pH of your substrate in your garden or just get some soil that ’s within the range . If you do n’t know your filth metrics , practice a ground test kit to find out .
The pH wo n’t make or break your plant though .
Plant spacing
Space mizuna 6 - 10 inches apart to minimize rivalry and maximize yield . The larger varieties should be given more space .
If you ’re growing as a microgreen , you may spin haphazardly and then fragile as they farm up . Neary vegetable that are tall make excellent fellow traveler plants to give the cool loving mizuna some shade .
Plant depth
institute each seed 0.25 ” in cryptic . Do n’t push or exhort to firm the territory . spatter the backfill over it lightly .
Sunlight
Plant in full sun unless you ’re in a warmer region . Mizuna is a coolheaded weather plant so do n’t establish in direct sun as it can scorch . For cool zona , full sun is urge .
Otherwise , plant it in partial sunlight . It can gain from the specter from its neighbor companion works that are taller if you have no spectre .
you may also use an umbrella or other artificial sunlight filter to avail block out sunlight .
Temperature
Mizuna can tolerate temperature between 40 - 80F. For idealistic ontogeny , it should be between 6 - 70F depending on the metal money . It does n’t tolerate heat well , so keep it out of scorching sun . habituate umbrellas or marvelous companion neighbor to give it shade .
Humidity
Mizuna tolerates average humidness between 40 - 60 % . Do n’t let the humidness raise too high or else it may lead to plant bunkum or fungous issues . you’re able to reduce humidity by reduce tearing or pruning the leaves when they get dense .
Watering
Provide your plant with round-the-clock body of water for the best possible yield . Mizuna is a hungry brassica and will need a never-ending supplying of water to produce . take for 1 - 2 inches of water per workweek .
correct accordingly to rainfall and drouth . The soil should be moist , but not smashed . you could apply a grease meter for precision . Water at the base of the plant life , not the leaves .
Wet leafage direct to moulder and fungous problem . Supplement with mulch or use moisture - retain substrate . This will help reduce watering . Do not lease the territory dry out out between waterings !
Plant food
Mizuna benefits from balanced flora food apply during the grow time of year . Nothing fancy is needed . Use as directed . reckon for something made for vegetables with an NPK of 5 - 5 - 5 . Additionally , using diluted Pisces emulsion can be good for them .
Pruning
Mizuna does n’t call for any even pruning , unless you ’re pile up the leaves to exhaust . In the winter , you ’ll want to deadhead it totally down to the stalk . Otherwise , let it grow .
If it gets out of dominance , then you could skip the entire thing down and use it as compost .
Weeding
Check on your plants regularly to remove any weeds that are pop up . Mizuna wo n’t be able to beat the weeds and get outcompeted for food . To remove any weeds you descend across regularly .
If your grease is particularly prostrate to weed plant , add some mulch around the stain to help keep them forth . This is advantageously suited for organically rich soil as gage will have a respectable time growing it in .
Harvesting
Harvesting is well done when the sprouts are about 3 inch in height . They can be prune flawlessly from their stems or picked if you desire to remove them from the soil with the roots and leaves .
The correct prison term to harvest varies but generally will take about 2 - 3 weeks from institute . Yes , they ’re quick to harvest VERY QUICKLY compare to other brassicas .
If you want them to continually get for you , dilute the industrial plant about 1 inch above the cap and let it regrow . This is known as the excision and come again method in growing industrial plant . Cut out the entire thing and then utilize it . permit it develop and repetition .
in conclusion , you may just cut what you need . When they get about 3 - 8 column inch leaves , you may trim them off on demand . apply them decent away or put them in a wet towel for storage in the fridge .
Cut leaves should be rinsed and then dried before you use up them .
Some tips on maximizing your proceeds :
Regrowing
If you need to economize some mizuna germ for next time of year so you do n’t have to buy seeds again , you’re able to leave the blossoming stalks to grow and let them get cross-pollinate .
bee and skirt will do their thing , then the seed cod will grow on their own . permit them recrudesce and then save the germ inside by reap them .
Split the pods , pile up the seeds , then put them somewhere ironic for next time of year .
Storage
When you glean and end up with a surplus , you’re able to put in them distort in a cockeyed towel in an airtight container . It stays right in the fridge for a few days .
But they go bad jolly promptly , so you should only harvest what you plan to expend and nothing extra .
They also do n’t do well in the Deepfreeze , so you should corrode them before they go regretful . Pick only what you ’ll use .
Container planting
Mizuna grow easily in container and takes well to it . opt a container with multiple drainpipe golf hole and is at least 6 ” in width and deepness .
Plant in fertilizer well - drain soil . Do n’t over - fertilize and do n’t overwater as the buildup is big in containers .
Pests
Sadly , this mustard is prone to pest that roll in the hay to course on its tender leave .
Some of the most vulgar bugs you ’ll see run through it are aphids , slugs , snails , mallet , folio beetles , caterpillars , ants , clams loopers , and some wildlife may munch on it .
you could handle most of them using rude methods like dish easy lay , manual removal , or insecticidal nebulizer . Avoid using any grave compound on your fruit plants .
Diseases
There are also some disease that brassica is susceptible to , including downlike mold , yellow blotching , rusting , leaf smirch , root rot , blight , stem rot , and blank rust .
you may eliminate most of them by not overwatering and unconstipated harvesting to forbid buildup of wet in the substrate .
If you have an a set of leaf , you should prune or use them so water can evaporate .
Best uses
This veg is a expert addition to stir - fries , salads , or wraps . you could fill in spinach with mizuna as they ’re standardized in texture .
Some people like the bigger leaf greens , and some cultivar match the greenback . Look for Florida Broadleaf and you ’ll get some Brobdingnagian greens .
Use for cooking , steaming , soup , or mix them into sandwiches . add together to soup or spring mixture with blowball , radicchio , endive , eggplant , kangkong , sorrel , freisee , mache , or prickly-seeded spinach .
eat up them raw is n’t advisable because they ’re pretty tasteless . If you glean them too late , they also get bitter and tough to chew .
The salutary is when they ’re harvested early so you get that gentle tender leafage with the sweet taste .
Other common questions about mizuna care
Here are some usually ask questions about mizuna that you may ascertain beneficial .
If your interrogation is n’t here , place it at the end of this varlet to get an answer .
How long does it take to grow Mizuna?
The mediocre time to reap is about 21 days .
Some variate may take up to 40 sidereal day while others are as quick as 14 daylight . Local condition , temperature , water , competition , and filth quality all are variables . If you provide everything perfectly , you should expect it to grow like crazy and quick to eat !
liken to other genus members , Asian mustard is surprisingly immediate which make it so cheap to grow . seed are cheap . Produce is cheap . Labor is cheap .
Is Mizuna a mustard green? Or lettuce?
It ’s part of the brassica genus and is considered a leafy green . It ’s neither or . It is part of the same group that includes other cruciferous vegetable like Brassica oleracea botrytis , kale , broccoli , Brussels sportswoman , etc .
It ’s not considered lettuce or mustard greens unripened because those are their own plants . However , it ’s often refer to as “ Japanese mustard greens fleeceable . ”
What can I substitute for Mizuna?
you may utilize spinach , mustard greens , kale , or watercress . Use younger leaves to pit the grain of mizuna .
What does mizuna lettuce taste like?
It has a sweet , peppery taste with a cushy texture . The flowers are juicy and total a kick to the mouth . It ’s gently bitter if left to grow and can add a nice elan to raw and cooked recipes .
Mizuna companion plants
Some of the best companion plants are onion , lettuce , curry , celery , beans , witloof , mustard , tatsoi , beans , beetroot , cabbage , cucumber , marjoram , peas , strawberry , and dill .
These wo n’t compete for nutrients . Choose taller companion plants to give shade for the poor mizuna for a symbiotic relationship .
Further reading/references
You may ascertain these references useful :
Enjoy your Asian mustard!
You now know all the basics for growing and care for Asian mustard .
Grow it on your own and delight the salads , soup , dishes , and whatever else you plan to use it for . This round-eyed leafy jet is light to grow even for the beginner and give quick final result .
It ’s a proficient elbow room to get into gardening for those that are raring . It does n’t get any leisurely than mizuna IMO .
Do you have any doubtfulness ? Post a comment and let me know .
I ’ve always been interested in horticulture , but I never took it seriously until I was forcefully gifted an orchid . This was what obtain me into the sideline and I ’ve never look back . I love writing about it , but not nearly as much as go into the dirt and sculpture the consummate cosmetic ornamental to enjoy for the times .
