Do you want to grow an easy-care, aromatic crop with beautiful flowers in the garden or on your balcony? Then you have made exactly the right choice with mustard! Find out below how to grow mustard yourself.
How do I grow a mustard plant myself?
To grow a mustard plant yourself, sow mustard seeds all year round in moist soil, 2 cm deep, at a planting distance of 20 to 25 cm. Water regularly and ensure there is enough light. Pay attention to crop rotation and harvest leaves and seeds accordingly.
What does mustard need to be happy?
Mustard actually only needs two things to germinate and grow: light and water. So, as long as you water it regularly and it gets a little sunlight, your mustard cultivation is sure to be a success. Since mustard is a cruciferous vegetable, crop rotation must be observed: cruciferous vegetables can only be planted in one location every four years. In addition to mustard, this also includes brassicas, radishes, radishes, cress and others.
When is mustard planted?
Mustard can be sown all year round. If you want to harvest the seeds, you should sow them in May. If frost is no longer expected, you can sow it directly outdoors, otherwise pre-growing on the windowsill is advisable.
The most important thing about growing mustard
- Location: moist and bright, pay attention to crop rotation!
- Sowing date: all year round, for seed harvest in May
- Sowing depth: 2cm
- Planting distance: 20 to 25cm
- Care: water, do not fertilize
- Harvest date: leaves all year round, seeds in early autumn
- Uses: leaves for salads and hot dishes, seeds for seasoning dishes and making mustard, entire plant for green manure
Harvesting mustard seeds
Mustard seeds can usually be harvested in October when the pods are yellow and dry. Knock out the seeds by putting the pods in a bag and banging it on the ground or against a wall. You can use the mustard seeds obtained in this way as a spice, to make mustard or grow other mustard plants from them. Since a mustard plant produces up to 25,000 mustard seeds, you can do several things with it.
Make your own mustard
If you've already made the effort to grow mustard yourself, it's only a tiny step to making your own mustard. What's more, making mustard is just as easy as growing mustard. All you need is:
- Mustard seeds
- Water
- Wine vinegar
- S alt
- Sugar
- a mustard mill or similar
Grind the mustard in a mustard grinder. If you don't have one, you can crush it with a mortar, but this will produce a less fine mustard. Mix the mustard with s alt and sugar. Heat the water with the wine vinegar and allow the solution to cool. Then mix everything together. Your own mustard is ready.
