Mustard Tendergreen ( Brassica juncea ) is an annual vegetable grown for its mildly spicy leaves. This variety of Mustard Greens is ideal for salads with its mild flavour and rich green colour. The leaves are tender and can be added to stir-fry’s, sandwiches, salads or used to make a mild mustard sauce.
Tendergreen is fast growing and can be harvested within 6-8 weeks. Like most mustards, the Tendergreen is an excellent source of Vitamins C and K, and research has found that eating Mustard Greens can help prevent heart disease.
Another benefit of Mustard Tendergreen is that it can be cut down as it dies off in late-Autumn and used as a nitrogen-rich green manure. Tendergreen is also known as Mustard Spinach, Spinach Mustard or Komatsuna.
Other Mustard varieties available are Lime Streaks, Red Giant and Japanese Mustard.
Growth
Mustard Tendergreen is a cold hardy vegetable that grows to 50 cm (20 inches). It requires moist, but well drained soil and prefers full sun, although tolerates some shade. In some climates, Mustard can be harvested all year round but grows best when sown to avoid hot sun and cold frosts.
Most mustard greens are cool season annuals and can tolerate light frosts for short periods. Tendergreen can be harvested from 6-8 weeks from sowing and is slow to bolt. Space seedlings around 20cm apart.
As weather becomes too hot or cold, Mustards will turn to seed and start growing again when the temperatures suit.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Brassicaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
7 to 27°C / 45 to 80°F can withstand light frosts and hot temperatures for short periods.
SOIL TYPE:
Soil should be loose and well draining.
LOCATION:
Full sun, will tolerate some shade.
HEIGHT:
Up to 50 cm’s (20 inches) above ground
WIDTH:
Up to 45 cm’s (18 inches)
pH:
6.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by Wind. Bees required to produce seed.
MATURITY:
Average 50-60 days
GERMINATION RATES:
96%
GERMINATION TIME:
7-14 days at temperatures between 10-23°C / 50-75°F
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 250
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 4 years.
FACTS ABOUT BRASSICA JUNCEA (Mustard Tendergreen)
For a milder taste, harvest Tendergreen leaves when they are young as they get hotter with age.
Blending Tendergreen leaves with oil makes a mildly spicy mustard sauce.
Mustards are part of the same plant family as Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Kale.
Although often called Japanese Mustards, most mustards originate in China.
