If you always reach for the bottle of mustard while cooking, you will love mustard microgreens. These baby greens don't look like the popular seasoning, but they have the same hot and sweet taste. In fact, mustard sprouts are one of the tastiest microgreens out there. They are the perfect garden-friendly addition to enjoying dinner!
Ripe mustard plants may give us that familiar yellow color, but they can't compete with the nutrition and simplicity of mustard microgreens. A serving of mustard microgreens is as good (or even better) than your store-bought veggies. These greens are high in vitamins A, B6, C, K, E, calcium, fiber, potassium, and a lot more. After all, mustard belongs to the Brassica genus, which is one of the healthiest plants of all.
Mustard microgreens look very similar to chia microgreens. They have white stems and light green cotyledons with some crispness. However, you can bring out more of your micro-green garden by using different types of mustard. For example, the Red Garnet variety has beautiful burgundy leaves. There are different varieties so your micro garden can look as hot as it tastes!
Good products for growing mustard microgreens:
Mustard microgreens short info
Spicy oriental mustard microgreens
| Taste: | Sharp, spicy mustard taste |
| Soaking: | No |
| Rinse / Drain: | No |
| Germination: | 2-3 Days |
| Ideal harvest: | 5-14 days |
Growing mustard microgreens
Mustard sprouts are some of the easiest to produce – and growing microgreens is already an easy task! Let's start by gathering the supplies needed for this easy-to-grow micronutrient.
Red Garnet Mustard Microgreens
materials
- Seeds: Pick some good quality mustard seeds. We like the ones from True Leaf Market.
- Containers: at least two shallow trays, one with drainage holes and one without (you can get a set of these and punch the holes yourself)
- Growing Medium: The Espoma Seed Starter Mix is our first choice when growing microgreens
- Light: Look for a quality grow light like this one (we also recommend these T5 grow lights).
- Sharp scissors: Kitchen scissors are ideal for microgreens (you can use them for other herbs too!)
- spray bottle
As mentioned above, we love the Microgreen seeds from True Leaf Marketand their mustard microgreen seeds are no exception to this rule. Here is a selection of our favorites:
Mustard seeds are tiny, so you'll need a good amount to plant them densely. To be on the safe side, we recommend purchasing an ounce of seeds per 10 × 20 growing tray. You can try sowing mustard seeds from the grocery store, but seeds intended for microgreen gardening are more likely to be successful.
Microgreens require a fine-grained growth medium, which is why we recommend seed starting soil. The delicate root system of mustard sprouts navigates the system easily, unlike earth full of debris. When it comes to mustard, you can also grow microgreens in coconut or hydroponically.
As with all microgreens, mustard sprouts thrive under a grow light instead of natural sunlight. Since the light can be hung directly above the tray, the sprouting seedlings will grow straight and evenly. If you use sunlight, the sprouts will tilt towards the light and grow unevenly, giving your micro-garden a slightly wobbly look.
soaking
Mustard seeds are tiny, round, and dark. Like chia seeds, they become sticky when placed in water. It is quite difficult to plant a mass of goop. So definitely skip soaking these seeds.
plants
Now that you have your supplies and seeds unimpregnated, we're ready to plant! Take the growing tray with drainage holes and fill it with soil almost to the brim. Smooth the surface and spray it well with the spray bottle. Press lightly on the floor with your palms or something flat.
Next, sprinkle the mustard seeds over the entire surface of the soil. Place them close enough to grow a green mat, but far enough apart to allow good ventilation in the trays. Since the soil is already moist, the seeds should stay in place and begin to germinate immediately.
Take your second tray (with no holes) and place it directly on top of the seeds. It should block out all the light and push it to the ground. Add a small weight to push the seeds further into the ground. In this way, the roots grow into the potting soil. Most microgreens can hold up to 5 pounds, but mustard plants can only hold 2 pounds of tops.
Growing
Komatsuna mustard microgreens
After planting, it takes 2-3 days for the mustard seeds to germinate. During this time, you need to keep the cover open so that the seedlings remain in the dark. You should also check soil moisture daily and mist as necessary.
Once germinated, the microgreen plants push up the cover as they grow. The cotyledons are also visible. This is your signal to remove the blackout cover and add the grow light about 30 cm above the compartments. The mustard green leaves may turn yellow from a lack of sunlight, but they will quickly take on their full color.
As you grow your microgreens, make sure the soil is evenly moist. When it starts to dry, use the cover compartment again as a watering compartment. Just fill it with an inch or two of water and place the growing tray inside. Let the bottom fill for about 10 minutes, then remove the watering tray. This soil irrigation method is the best way to keep your microgreen plants hydrated without bringing excess moisture to the soil surface, which can lead to bacterial growth.
harvest
Mustard green is usually ready for harvest between 5 and 14 days after planting. This makes them ideal for on-demand harvesting, unlike other microgreens with a short harvest window.
When they are ready to be eaten, the cotyledons will fully open and the microgreen will grow to 1 to 3 inches. However, they should be harvested before the first real leaves become visible, as the taste and texture of the microgreens change drastically.
Since we're removing all of the leaves, mustard microgreens are a one-off plant. You can pull out the used seeds and reuse the soil. Be aware, however, that over time it will lose nutrients and bacteria will gain. Perhaps the best option is to compost the soil into an organic growing medium for another project (like basil microgreens!).
storage
Before you eat your harvested microgreens, be sure to wash them well (some organic gardeners skip this step). Then add them to any food that needs some seasoning. Fresh mustard microgreens make great herbs with salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and a range of Indian dishes.
Unused microgreens should be sealed in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator (add a paper towel if necessary to absorb moisture). They should stay fine for about 10 days. Like most fresh foods, they should be eaten ASAP for the best taste and health benefits.
frequently asked Questions
Osaka Purple Mustard Microgreens
Q: Are mustard microgreens good for you?
A: Definitely! These herbs are close relatives of kale, and their nutritional value shows it! They have a number of vitamins and minerals as well as hair growth benefits. Research has also shown that the mustard microgreen is of great benefit to people with diabetes.
Q: How do mustard microgreens taste?
A: Well, like mustard! You can grow microgreens instead of filling your refrigerator with processed condiments. Depending on the variety, these green garden sprouts even taste like horseradish.
The green fingers behind this article:
