Curly Mustard Seeds

Curly mustard brings crinkled, peppery leaves to the garden. Pick young for a milder flavor or let leaves grow for cooking.

Packet: 50 seeds

Planting at a glance

• Season: Cool season
• Start: Direct sow
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually about 4–10 days in a moist, mild-to-warm seedbed
• Final spacing: Thin to 5–10 inches for mature plants; rows about 12 inches apart
• Light: Full sun
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 40–50 days from sowing for larger leaves; pick baby leaves earlier

When to plant

Plant during your local cool growing season. In colder regions, use spring or late-summer/fall sowings and allow enough growing time before hard freezes. South Florida outdoor window: September–January.

How to plant

1. Prepare loose, well-drained soil or a clean seed-starting mix. Direct sow.
2. Sow ¼–½ inch deep. Keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge. Then water when the soil needs it, allowing excess water to drain.
3. Thin or transplant to the listed final spacing. Give seedlings sufficient light and check moisture as roots establish.

How to harvest

Pick young leaves for milder flavor or larger tender leaves for cooking. Keep the growing center for further picking.

Aunt E’s tip: Sow a short new row while the weather stays mild instead of planting the entire packet at once.