It seems like you only have to take care away for a second , or maybe a Clarence Day , and your matured Indian mustard greens will start flowering .
And not long after that , they ’re full of seed pods .
In some circumstances you’re able to take in the seed and save them for replanting next time of year or to share with friends .
Unripe pods not ready to harvest.
Mustard greens are a coolheaded - weather crop , ordinarily grow in the spring or fall and are typicallyready to harvestafter 30 - 60 days , depending on the variety .
The most pop types to develop for the spicy , flavorful leaves areBrassica juncea , B. rapavar.japonicaandB. rapavar.narinosa .
you’re able to learn to grow Indian mustard park in our guide .
Unripe pods not ready to harvest.
In this article , I ’m going to spread over how to save seeds from your mustard William Green for planting .
What You’ll Learn
Planting thoughtfulness
When to Harvest
Separating and put in
When mustard greens bolt the leaves become too acid , putting an end to your harvest .
The plant commit up efflorescence stalks with small yellow flower . After the flowers have opened up , they pull in pollinators , and after pollination the fuel pod start to form .
If you are designate to harvest the seeds , you postulate to keep in mind that mustard greens greens can baffle - pollinate with other potpourri of the same species , and if that happens , the saved seeds wo n’t grow true to the variety you plant .
Mizuna , for deterrent example , is a variety ofB. rapa , as are alltypes of turnip . If you have turnips growing nearby , you move the risk of cross - pollination .
There is no risk of interbreeding pollenation between differentBrassicaspecies , so you do n’t need to interest if you are growingkaleorcabbagenearby .
If you are growing a hybrid variety , works grow from saved semen will not acquire dependable to the parent works . Socheck your seed packetto ensure the cultivars you have chosen are open - pollenate or heirloom varieties .
In addition to cross pollination , if the plants are discover to wild mustard or other cruciferous mourning band and volunteers , certain pathogen likeColletotrichum higginisianumthat causes anthracnose , can make their way from the infected godforsaken plants into your cultivated green .
The industrial plant can then bring out infected come and spread the disease to the next multiplication of plants . This is gratefully quite uncommon , but if you distrust a transference of contagion , that ’s a good ground to purchase a Modern packet of seed alternatively of try on to save them from your plants .
If you ’re not growing related to plants and are pretty sure you do n’t have an upshot with disease or volunteer , the seed - saving process is fairly simple .
Timing is everything , so keep reading to learn when to make your move .
As with any member of the loot family you grow in your vegetable garden , it ’s peculiarly important not to implant Indian mustard greens in the same place two years in a row . And you should n’t plant any of theirBrassicarelatives in that same spot , either – such asbroccoli , turnips , or kale .
I understand if you ’re wondering , “ What does this yakety-yak about crop rotation have to do with saving seed ? ” The answer : If you allow these spicy vegetable to go to cum in the garden , you risk having volunteers grow in that same blank space next twelvemonth .
Then you ’ll be establishing a haven forBrassicainsect pest and soil borne diseases . Instead , ensure to harvestbeforethe fuel pod start out protrude .
But you ca n’t do this too betimes , as the seeds wo n’t be executable if you pick the pods before they are quick .
You require to tolerate the seedcase to dry out and turn brown on the flora . To make indisputable they ’re quick , slit one or two of the pod exposed and make certain the seminal fluid at heart are brown , or in the example of some varieties like red leaf mizuna , a dusty blush wine or plum color .
If they ’re gullible , abstemious green , or white , they are n’t yet ready to harvest .
The pods may not all dry out at the same time , those skinny to the groundwork of the flower stalk tend to dry first . you could pick these off severally or simply wait until most of the seedcase on the stalk are ready . Some of the dry pods may break open and drop their seed .
To save table mustard dark-green seed , you’re able to remove the dry pods individually , ignore off the full branch , or you’re able to pull out up the flora .
Carefully single out the pods from the peak stalk and set them on a drop cloth or in a shoebox or bucket . Some of the seeds will unload out of the pods on their own .
For the others , you may rub the dry pods between your thumb and index finger to release them .
If you have a Brobdingnagian batch , you could set them out on a clean sheet or tarp and walk over them with clean - soled skid until the pods pop open and unfreeze their contents .
Remove large pieces of chaff and detritus by hand , and separate the rest by winnowing .
Discard the stalks or spent plant life , whichever you curve for the harvest time , and the shuck .
Store the germ in a modest foxiness newspaper envelope , a jar with a screw - on lid , or a plastic storage container . Be sure to label the store container with the date of collection and the variety .
Place them in a cool dry billet and they should remain viable for up to four years .
Mustard Greens, Year after Year
save seeds from your own plant is an economical agency to enjoy your pet miscellanea season after season . And rather of feel foiled when your plants bolt , you may see it as an chance instead !
Plus , the pretty sensationalistic flowers draw pollinator andbeneficial insectsto the garden .
And for more data aboutmustard greens , check out these scout next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . in the first place print October 8th , 2020 . Last updated February 8th , 2025 . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Rose Kennedy
