How to grow mustard greens in a raised bed

Mustard greens bring a warm, peppery kick to salads and stir-fries, and grow at a cracking pace in the cool. From mild baby leaves to fiery mature ones, they're a fast, generous raised-bed crop.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 20–25 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 5–7 weeks

When to plant: Mustard greens love the cool — sow from autumn through early spring. Heat makes them bolt and turn fierce. Sow a short row every few weeks. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing it in a raised bed: Sow directly into rich, moist mix. They're brassicas, so netting helps with cabbage whites — but they're so fast they often beat the pests.

Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for milder, tender leaves; stress makes them hotter.

Common pests: keep an eye out for caterpillars, aphids and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main one is downy mildew and leaf spot, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.

Companion plants: Grow with other Asian greens; the flowers, if you let them, feed beneficial insects. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick baby leaves for a mild bite, or larger ones for more heat. Use fresh in salads, or wilt and stir-fry.

More growing guides: mizuna, tatsoi and rocket.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Alpha from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.