Mustard is a very undemanding crop and thrives not only in the garden bed but also in pots on the windowsill or on the balcony. Below you will find out what needs to be taken into account when sowing.
How do you sow mustard correctly?
To sow mustard correctly, loosen the soil in the garden bed or fill seed trays, moisten the soil, place the mustard seeds on top, maintain a planting distance of 15 to 20cm, cover the seeds with a 2cm thick layer layer of soil and moisten the soil again.
Which seed is the right one?
Generally, brown, black and white (yellow) seeds are distinguished. The three differ not only in taste but also in their height. Black mustard grows to a height of up to 1.80m and is therefore particularly suitable for growing in the garden. White mustard, on the other hand, only grows to a height of 30 to 70cm and can therefore also be grown on the balcony.
Where can mustard be sown?
Mustard, as already mentioned, does not only thrive in the garden bed. Simply sow your mustard in a pot on the balcony or even in a bowl by the window. It is important that it gets some light so that it can grow properly and that you keep the substrate moist.
When is mustard sown?
Mustard can in principle be sown all year round. However, like all young plants, young mustard is sensitive to frost and should therefore only be planted outdoors after the Ice Saints. If you want to harvest the seeds, it is advisable to sow them in May. The mustard produces flowers in summer and you can harvest the mustard seeds in autumn.
How to sow your mustard
You can either sow your mustard directly outdoors in May or you can grow it on the windowsill and plant it outside after the ice saints. This is how you proceed with sowing:
- Loose up the soil in the garden bed or fill your seed trays (€35.00 on Amazon) with soil.
- Moisten the potting soil or the soil in the garden bed.
- Put the mustard seeds on the soil.
- Maintain a planting distance of 15 to 20cm (depending on the variety).
- Cover the seeds with a layer of soil about 2cm thick.
- Moisten the soil.
If you have a lot of birds in your garden or on your balcony, it is advisable to protect the seeds with a net or a scarecrow. To be on the safe side, you can also sow the seeds more densely and prick them out as soon as the plants have two pairs of leaves.
What happens after sowing?
Mustard requires little care. However, make sure that the substrate does not dry out, especially immediately after sowing. Mustard germinates relatively quickly, so young mustard plants can be seen after just a few days.
