How to grow Mustard Greens
Updated October 2026
Mustard greens are fast, easy cool-season greens with a peppery bite, a Southern favorite for cooking and good raw when young. Grow them from fall through spring in Florida and the South and in spring and fall farther north; heat and dry soil make the leaves fiercely hot and send plants to seed.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Mustard Greens
Not to be confused with: Many Asian greens, including mizuna, mibuna and komatsuna, are mustard relatives grown the same way. Collards and kale are cabbage-family greens with milder flavor.
Where to plant
Grow mustard greens in full sun to part shade in rich, well-drained soil kept consistently moist. They are a cool-season crop: in summer they bolt and develop a strong, hot flavor, and moisture or heat stress makes them unpleasantly spicy. A little shade helps as the weather warms, especially for baby greens.
Curly-leaved varieties tolerate frost better than flat-leaved types, though hard freezes can damage them.
- Florida: UF/IFAS lists September to April in North Florida, September to February in Central Florida and September to January in South Florida.
- The Gulf South, Texas, the Desert Southwest and California: sow from fall through late winter; in Texas sow fall crops 50 to 60 days before the first frost.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: sow in early spring and again in late summer and fall.
- The North and Alaska: sow in early spring and again in mid to late summer for a fall crop.
Choosing a variety
UF/IFAS suggests 'Southern Giant Curled', 'Florida Broad Leaf', 'Tendergreen', 'Giant Red' and 'Green Wave' for Florida. Broadleaf types need more space than curly types. Red-leaved varieties add color to salads.
How to plant
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep directly in the garden, or set out transplants in early spring.
- Thin seedlings to 5 to 10 inches apart, giving broadleaf types the wider spacing, or leave them closer and harvest as baby greens.
- Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks through the cool season for a continuous supply.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist; water early in the day so the leaves dry before night, which reduces fungal disease. Dry soil makes the greens tough and harsh. Feed with compost or a nitrogen fertilizer for fast, tender growth.
Pruning and care through the year
- Cover young plants with row cover to keep off flea beetles and cabbage worms.
- Pull plants that bolt, and do not let them drop seed; NC State notes brown mustard is listed as invasive or a noxious weed in some Midwestern states.
- Rotate with crops outside the cabbage family.
Harvesting
Pick outer leaves when they are big enough to use, leaving the center to keep growing, or cut whole plants. Young leaves are good raw in mixed salads; older leaves are usually cooked as greens. Flavor is mildest in cool weather.
Growing in pots
Mustard greens grow well in containers of good potting mix. Keep them moist and pick often.
Companion planting
Mustard greens grow fast and fit between slower crops. They share pests with cabbage and broccoli.
Good companions
- Beet A cool-season root crop that grows alongside without competing above ground.
- Carrot Slow to fill its row, leaving room for quick greens.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to mustard greens.
- Tomato A warm-season crop with different timing; traditionally kept apart.
Pests and diseases
Mustard greens grow quickly, but the usual cabbage-family pests can riddle the leaves.
Pests to watch for
- Flea beetles Many tiny holes in young leaves.
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars chewing holes in leaves.
- Aphids Clusters under leaves.
- Slugs Ragged holes and slime trails after damp nights.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on top of leaves with gray growth beneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
Why are my mustard greens so hot?
Heat and dry soil make mustard greens much spicier. Grow them in cool weather, keep the soil evenly moist, and pick leaves young.
When should I plant mustard greens in Florida?
UF/IFAS lists September to April in North Florida, September to February in Central Florida and September to January in South Florida.
How do I harvest mustard greens?
Pick outer leaves as they reach a useful size and let the center keep growing. Young leaves are good raw; older leaves are best cooked.
Can mustard greens take frost?
Light frost, yes, and curly-leaved varieties are the hardiest. Hard freezes can damage them.
Is mustard invasive?
Brown mustard is listed as invasive or a noxious weed in some Midwestern states. Pull plants before they set seed.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS EDIS: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021); NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Brassica juncea; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Chinese Cabbage and Mustard, Specialty Crops of Texas.
Loading sow calendar…