Mustard Seed Tree Care

The mustard seed tree is an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers and toothed leaves. Most people grow this tree for its seeds.  We cover everything you need to learn about mustard seed tree care so that you can get your own mustard plants at home.

Fast Facts for the Mustard Seed Tree

The term ''mustard'' includes several plants in the Brassicaceae family. Different mustard plants produce different seed colors, such as brown mustard and black mustard.

The leaves of a mustard plant can vary in shape and size across species. While some may be oval or frilly, others are lobed. The leaf colors range from purple and red to green, making them a good addition to salads.

Since mustard seeds germinate rapidly, you can expect them to form basal leaves in 5 to 10 days. Germinated seeds grow into mature plants in just a few months. Mustard plants are ready for harvest in just 90 days.



You can eat every part of a mustard seed tree. The flowers and leaves add taste to stir fry recipes and salads, while the root can be consumed after boiling or rating. You can flavor your meats, veggies, and ferments with the seeds.

Plant your mustard seeds indoors in cell trays. Mix the cell trays with seedling compost and moisten the soil. Place 1-2 seeds in each cell and press them lightly into the soil. The seeds will germinate in a week or so.



Transplant the mustard plants outside in the garden or in nursery pots. If you do the former, let there be a space of 10 inches between each plant. Keeping sufficient space for growth eliminated competition between adjacent mustard trees.

A mustard tree grows quickly and with minimal maintenance. You just need to follow these instructions.

Sun and Temperature

Mustard likes full sun but also prefers partial shade. When planting your mustard tree, select a spot that gets sufficient sunlight but is also shaded in the afternoon. Or you can use a shade cover to provide shade to your plant.



The temperature should stay in the range of 50 to 75ºF for the plant to thrive. Although mustard trees can tolerate low temperatures, they will die in extended frost periods.

Water and Humidity

There's no standard watering frequency for a mustard tree. Water your plant when the top few inches are dry. You can check this by inserting your finger into the soil.



If your region is extremely hot, you might need to water your mustard tree more frequently. Invest in a soaker hose to ensure your plant gets enough water.

Soil

The perfect soil for mustard seed trees is fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic. You can add soil amendments, such as organic mulch, to increase the soil's fertility.

Fertilizing

Your mustard tree will not need to be fertilized for the first few weeks of growth. When you see the first flowers, it's time to fertilize the plant.

Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer during spring for better leaf growth. Once the plant has established itself, use a balanced fertilizer.

Pruning

Since the mustard plant is an annual vegetable, it does not need pruning.

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Propagation

Mustard trees are propagated through seedlings. You can do it indoors in seed trays or out in the soil. Here's how to grow a new mustard plant with seeds:

• Prepare a garden bed outside and sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep into the soil. Keep a distance of 1 inch between adjacent seeds.
• Moisten the soil, and water it frequently to keep it moist until the seeds germinate.
• When the seedlings grow up to 4 inches, thin them out to create a separation of 4 to 5 inches.



The smaller mustard varieties should grow about 5 to 10 inches apart, while larger ones need more space to grow, from 10 to 18 inches.

Harvesting and Storing

As soon as the leaves grow, they're ready to eat. You can harvest them whenever you need. However, as summer arrives and the weather gets warmer, the leaves will become bitter. Avoid using them at this point.



Mustard plants are Rabi crops, so they are sown in October or November. The flowering goes on from November through February. You can harvest the seeds in February or March.

Harvesting

Here's how to harvest the seeds:

• Cut the mustard stems from the plant.
• Form a bunch by tying them together.
• Choose a cool area with proper ventilation to hang the bunches upside down for drying. You can also put the stems on a sheet on the ground. If you hang them upside down, cover the seed heads with paper bags to catch any ripe seeds that fall from the pods.
• Shake the seeds out of the pods after they dry.



It's best to harvest a mustard plant before it ripens fully. If you let the pods stay on the plant for too long, they will burst, and the seeds will scatter all around your garden. Harvest the plant when the pods are light brown, and the base leaves are yellow.

Storing

Use the harvest leaves when they're fresh, or store them in the refrigerator in a Ziploc bag. As for the seeds, you can dry them in a dehydrator. Dried mustard seeds can be stored for 18 months in an airtight container.

Mustard plants are generally healthy but can still face a few problems. Here are some of them.

A common problem when growing mustard seed trees is stress, which could arise from malnutrition, frost, high temperature, or poor watering practices. You can prevent this by adding soil amendments for fertility and providing adequate water.



If your area gets strong winds, mustard plants might need additional support to prevent breakage. Use plant supports like stakes to keep your mustard plants upright.

Aphids are small insects that feed on young mustard leaves. They may be black, green, yellow, white, or red in color. Plant mustard trees with calendula or marigold plants to keep aphids at bay.



If the problem gets out of hand, use an insecticidal spray to remove aphids. Neem oil also works well in this regard. If the aphid population is still small, a strong jet of water can help eliminate it.

Powdery mildew and downy mildew affect mustard plants that grow too close to each other. These diseases can stunt the plant's growth and damage the foliage.



Prevent mildew by planting your mustard trees at a significant distance. If you notice an infection, use a sulfur-containing fungicide to get rid of the mildew.

Sweet New Earth's Final Word On Mustard Seed Trees

Not many people know they can grow mustard seed trees. Even less know that mustard seed trees are not trees. At least not the one we are talking about. But now you know everything you need to take care of this amazing plant.

Before you go...

Now that you know how to take care of mustard seed trees, you might be interested in some other plant care guides. Be sure to check out our other guide on the pluot tree so you can learn more about unique things to garden...

• Pluot Tree Care: Everything You Need To Know

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