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                  
      T T              
      P P   P          

(Best months for growing Mustard greens in USA - Zone 5a 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

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03 Jun 20, FELECIA L CADE (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Gai Choy able to be sowed in July for Fall harvest right? Do these leaves grow pretty big? I ordered Asian mustard from someone in the spring and believe I received the small Gai Choy.
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As a boy growing up the South of the USA we often ate mustard greens. Though they tend to be boiled with bacon or ham and stewed for at least 24 hours. Sometimes my grandmother would add a little sugar if the were bitter. We ate them much as you would boiled spinach.

- Allen Shiley

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