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 should I plant mustard greens?

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 garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): February to August
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): February to May and August to October
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): September to February
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to August
• Arid inland: March to August

How do I grow mustard greens 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.

How often should I water and feed mustard greens?

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

What pests attack mustard greens?

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

What diseases affect mustard greens?

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

What grows well with mustard greens?

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

When do I harvest mustard greens?

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 garden 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: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.